Radcliffe Boys 2, Prestwich 1
Lancs Amateur League Division Two at Hollinhurst, Radcliffe
Saturday 3rd April 2010
A host of missed chances from Prestwich contributed to a first league defeat since August 2009 in an entertaining but controversial match against Radcliffe Boys in Division Two at Hollinhurst on Saturday afternoon.
Going in to the game knowing a win could seal promotion, Prestwich started nervously and couldn’t seem to get in to their normal rhythm. However, after just ten minutes a good run and cross from Paul McGovern down the left opened up the Radcliffe defence only for Stephen Foley’s shot on the turn to roll just wide of an upright with the ‘keeper in no mans land.
The home side took the lead on the half hour mark before Prestwich looked to hit straight back a minute later but Foley saw his shot well saved.
Sean Haslam squared on 40 minutes as the visitors looked to levels the scores before the break but Foley fired high over the bar from ten yards.
Five minutes after the restart, Radcliffe extended their lead from the penalty spot as a forward went down over an outstretched leg. The powerful drive down the middle too good for Hudson in the Prestwich goal.
Prestwich, in unknown territory having never been two goals behind at any stage during this league campaign, responded well with Craig Howarth’s low shot testing the ‘keeper five minutes later.
Defender Richard Steadman’s powerful drive was superbly tipped over before Paul Taylor headed the resulting corner kick wide.
Substitute Jack Coyle provided a lifeline in the 78th minute as he scrambled the ball over the line and with Prestwich well in the ascendancy, there was genuine hope of the Heys Road side getting something from the game.
And that deserved chance should have come from the penalty spot in either the 80th or 85th minute. Firstly Coyle’s cross from the left was quite obviously handled by a defender in the area with the ref just a few metres from the incident.
And then the second incident which involved Coyle again as he burst through the middle only to see his shot superbly saved at close range. As the ball bounced back to the Prestwich striker, he shaped to tap the ball in to the empty net only to be clattered from behind, flooring the player while the defender hacked the ball clear. The referee somehow decided this was a fair challenge and waved away the plentiful protests from the visitors.
Anthony Roberts desperate long ranger with seconds remaining drifted over the bar and ultimately resigned Prestwich to their first league defeat in 17 games.
It’s been a superb run of form from the side but with Hesketh’s 5-0 win over Rochdale St Clements, Prestwich’s lead at the top is now down to four points having played one more game than their Southport based rivals.
Prestwich will look to bounce straight back from this disappointment when they travel to Bolton Ambassadors next Saturday, kick off at Hollycroft Avenue is 2:30pm.
PRESTWICH: Hudson, Hopkins, Barnes, Foley (Coyle (1)), Steadman, Taylor, Howarth, Roberts, Haslam, Jackson, McGovern
• Prestwich Reserves grabbed a late winner at Chaddertonians B on Saturday to stay top of Division Six. Goals from Brian Leckie, Ben Whittaker and John Blezard (2) secured a 4-3 win for Robbie Monetti’s side. The reserves are next in action this coming Tuesday with a trip to Bolton Wyresdale at Inverberg Drive, Breightmet.
• Prestwich Sunday team take on Eastbury at Goshen on Tuesday 6th April, kick-off 6:15pm.
