Standians 1, Prestwich 1
Friendly match at Goshen, Bury
Wednesday 29th July 2009
With the new season drawing ever closer, Prestwich’s friendly campaign continued with another testing fixture as Manchester League Division One side Standians provided the opposition down at Goshen.
The Ringley Road club, who recently merged with Whitefield rivals Stand Athletic, enjoyed the lions share of the early chances but found the Prestwich defence a tough nut to crack.
Lee Metcalfe’s new team were really putting in a shift for their manager but were finding clear-cut chances of their own hard to come by as the Standians rear-guard stood firm.
As Prestwich looked to make it through to the break with the scores blank, a Standians free-kick on the left eventually found it’s way back out to Ashley Ward who lashed home a low volley in to the bottom corner of Scott Parker’s goal.
A half-time pep-talk from Metcalfe praised the work rate and commitment from his team but stressed that if the players could find that extra 10%, then there was every chance of getting something out of the game.
And as the half wore on, Standians were becoming increasingly frustrated with their opponents and their own problems in trying to increase the slender lead.
But when Prestwich were then awarded a direct free-kick on the hour, skipper Matt Lott stepped up to slam a low drive round the wall and past the ‘keeper in to the bottom corner from 20 yards.
It was just what Prestwich’s gritty performance deserved and there were even a couple of chances to take the lead as the game became stretched in the final quarter.
Defender Chris Hopkins crashed a volley on to the astroturf latching on to a cross during another sortie in to Standians territory while a similar chance for James Tyldesley resulted in the same.
Robbie Monetti’s five minute guest appearance brought about Prestwich’s best chance of the game but bearing down on the ‘keeper, a last-ditch challenge from a defender was just enough to make sure the ball flew harmlessly wide.
In the end, the draw was probably a fair result as the lads again proved to be stern opposition to our much higher ranked opponents.
Manager Metcalfe, buoyed by the recent announcement that veteran Paul Mercer had agreed to become his assistant manager, was delighted with the performance from his team.
“Every single player did the club proud today,” said Metcalfe.
“They scrapped for everything, played some decent football and never let their heads drop after going behind against a strong Standians team.
“All the lads at the club have impressed me over the last four or five weeks of pre-season. To say that a lot of them didn’t even know each other when we started, it’s pleasing that they’ve all gelled so quickly and there’s a good bit of banter in the dressing rooms.
“Players from all our teams are chomping at the bit for the season to start proper, and I for one am so proud of their attitude and it only put’s us in good stead for the challenges that lie ahead,” said Metcalfe.
PFC: Parker (Bailey), Hopkins, Ward, Moir (Greaves), Turner, Lott (1) (Monetti), Grimes (Tyldesley), Mercer, Ingham (Harrison), Blezard, Foley (Steadman)
