Prestwich 3, Bolton Ambassadors 0
Lancs Amateur League Division Two at Heys Road, Prestwich
Saturday 6th February 2010
Prestwich put in another fantastic performance as they overcame Bolton Ambassadors 3-0 at Heys Road on Saturday. John Blezard volleyed in from 10 yards before Anthony Roberts’s brilliant chip gave Prestwich a cushion.
An own-goal gave the home side a third as Lee Metcalfe’s men consolidated their position at the top of Division Two.
Having a record of five wins and two defeats from their seven games played, Bolton Ambassadors were one of the two teams that could overtake Prestwich if they collected maximum points from their respective games in hand over the Heys Road side.
And following on from the abandoned game back in November between the two sides with the scores level at one-all, the visitors started brightly and nearly took a fifth minute lead but defender Richard Steadman stayed alert to hack an effort off his own goal-line.
Anthony Roberts had a shot turned around the post before Steadman headed wide from the resulting corner kick.
Enjoying success down the left flank with fearless full-back Michael Woodcock showing his class, Striker John Blezard sprang clear of the Bolton back-line but agonisingly sliced his effort wide after rounding the ‘keeper.
Blezard was unlucky again soon after as he turned Sean Haslam’s centre over the bar before midfield man Craig Howarth sent a long-ranger in to the ‘keepers arms.
Another Blezard chance went begging before winger Anthony Roberts fired over the bar as Prestwich went in to the break with the scores blank.
But the home side didn’t have long to wait to gain the lead their dominance deserved as Chris Hopkins’ accurate cross from deep was superbly converted on the volley from Blezard.
On the hour, Haslam and Blezard were involved in a bout of pinball in the Bolton area as the ball first came back in to play off the near post before clattering the far post just seconds later.
Howarth sent a chance across the face of goal before sub Stephen Foley’s probing ball forward was met first time on the half-volley by Roberts who sent a delightful lob over the stranded Ambassadors ‘keeper.
In the final significant action of the game, Roberts then had the defenders all in a spin as his trickery got him to the byline and his low centre was diverted over the line as the ‘keeper and a defender both tried to get the ball away from danger.
PRESTWICH: Hudson, Hopkins, Woodcock, Lott, Steadman, Taylor, Howarth (Ingham), McGovern (Foley), Haslam, Blezard (1) (Comiskey), Roberts (1)
• Prestwich Reserves got back to winning ways as they eased past Radcliffe Town ‘A’ by four goals to one. Matthew Gaskell scored a hat-trick while Mike Kirkley grabbed the other goal for Robbie Monetti’s men.
• Prestwich Sunday team finally got back in to action following 7 weeks of postponements and enjoyed a 6-3 win over FC Crown in the Premier Division.
Despite creating chances aplenty, Prestwich lacked any killer instinct in front of goal early on and paid the price as the vistors gained a 21st minute lead.
The lead was soon cancelled out as a surging run down the right from Gareth Barnes set up a chance for Chris Crookes who fired home to level things up.
A near post mix-up from a long throw gifted Crown a second as the home side went in a goal down at the break.
Crookes headed home Prestwich’s second equaliser from Matty Lott’s free-kick in the 48th minute before the striker nodded in again, this time from Shaun Jackson’s corner on the hour for his hat-trick.
Crown dragged the scores level with 10 minutes remaining but straight from the Prestwich kick-off, Jackson went on a Kinkladze-esque run through the visitors ranks, played a 1-2-3 with Sean Haslam with the third touch being a strike from the edge of the box that nestled in the corner. Fantastic stuff!
A deflated Crown were then picked apart by a rampant Prestwich as Jackson’s powerful shot was parried in to the path of Haslam for the strikers second of the morning.
Jackson then capped off a fine display with a goal of his own as Lott’s through-ball was squared by Haslam to the energetic forward who drilled in the sixth.
