Darren Buckley fired in four goals on Sunday as Prestwich finally overcame AFC Woolpack 4-3 to move in to second place in the Bury Premier Division. Not only did Prestwich suffer a late winner from their hosts in last season’s Millennium Cup Final but the previous other four meetings had also ended in defeat for Peter Lorenzini’s side.
The previous day the first team came back from behind twice as goals from Tom Walsh and Matthew Gaskell rescued a point for Lee Metcalfe’s side away at Thornleigh to keep the team second in Division One.
Liam Morrissey’s Reserve team blasted eight past Hesketh Casuals A in Division Five with Jordan Clegg netting another hat-trick which keeps them in pole position in Division Five.
There was no game for the third team this weekend.
Prestwich 2, Thornleigh 2
Lancs Amateur League Division One
Prestwich started off slowly in what was not a very good first half. A ball into the Prestwich box wasn’t cleared properly and a header from just inside the area went over everyone and into the net.
Not long after that the visitors equalised through a ball into the box from Lee Bushell and a good finishing header from recent signing Tom Walsh.
Into the second half and Prestwich came out the much better side but one of the rare attacks from the home team saw a boot upfield and as the referee failed to see a foul in the Prestwich area, a defensive mix up resulted leaving the opposition forward a chance to slot home.
Prestwich again equalised through a shot from the edge of the box deflecting off Matty Gaskell and into the net.
Lee Metcalfe’s men kept the pressure on for the rest of the game but failed to capitalise on anything leaving the game to a 2-2 finish.
Chris Hopkins
Prestwich Reserves 8, Hesketh Casuals A 2
Lancs Amateur League Division Five
Prestwich Reserves kept up their unbeaten run going up against a strong team in Hesketh Casuals.
The home side started well missing a few chances in the opening 10 minutes with Hoggard, Clegg and Doherty all going close.
But against the run of play, Hesketh took the lead when a back pass from Turner was missed by Watson in goal allowing the forward to tap in.
Prestwich stepped up their game and were rewarded when Bradley Clegg smashed a screamer in to the top corner.
With the Prestwich midfield taking control, it was not long before the second goal came along.
A good ball from Woodcock found Doherty who beat three defenders before coolly rounding the keeper and slotting the ball in to the net.
Prestwich should have scored more but were guilty of some bad misses. However, a bad mistake let in Lewis at the far post who slammed the ball into the goal.
It was then that the home side started playing sloppy and let Hesketh in to score their second when a silly free kick was given away on the edge of the box and the taker fired the ball past Watson in goal.
With the score 3-2 at the break, a few harsh words were said to the team and credit to the players, they started to play like they can as the second half got underway.
A good ball by Comiskey found Jordan Clegg who finished in style putting his shot in to the left hand corner.
The next goal came when a ball was met by Doherty at the back post who calmly put it in to the bottom corner.
Hoggard grabbed the sixth after playing a neat one-two with Clegg before Clegg himself stepped up to blast a penalty home for his hat-trick.
Rhys Hardie entered the fray and was unlucky with a few chances but it was the same player who laid the ball off to Comiskey for the midfielder to fire home to round off an 8-2 win.
MANAGERS NOTES – A good win against a big strong team but we’ve got to learn to stop being sloppy at times. We played well at times but its about 90 minutes not 60. I was pleased with the players who came on as subs and I hope the lads that started realise that they can come in and do a job for the team.
I keep saying it but its a squad game now and players have got to be aware that they have to fight for their shirts.
Liam Morrissey
AFC Woolpack 3, Prestwich Sunday 4
Bury Sunday League Premier Division
The trip to Goshen for this clash with Woolpack came on the back of five straight defeats for Prestwich in the two team’s previous five meetings and manager Peter Lorenzini was determined not to make it a sixth.
And when the scheduled kick off time came and went with only six players from the home side present, there were concerns that the game may not be started at all.
But eventually a few more turned up and the present nine men kicked off the match with Prestwich looking to convert their early numerical advantage in to goals.
After just five minutes, Darren Buckley collected the ball on the edge of the area and unleashed a superb volley in to the corner leaving the Woolpack ‘keeper rooted to the spot. 1-0 to Prestwich but ‘Bucko’ was just getting started.
Another couple of players entered the fray for Woolpack as the first half wore on but even before that with their numerical disadvantage, the home side were containing Prestwich. That was until Buckley raced clear a couple of minutes before half time and slotted past the distracted ‘keeper for his and his side’s second of the match.
After a quick turnaround, Prestwich continued where they left off and Buckley showed good hunger to pounce on the ‘keepers mistake to notch his first hat-trick for the club.
On the hour and with the visitors still dominant, Buckley was sniffing around again, this time collecting an under-hit back pass before calming placing the ball beyond the stranded Woolpack ‘keeper.
A mix up just moments later as Prestwich goalie Liam Brady slammed a clearance against Bobby Monetti to record an unfortunate own goal against the Italian defender and Woolpack had been gifted what was surely just a consolation.
But when Prestwich blew a glorious opportunity to put the game to bed a minute later when a low cross was sent over the bar from just a yard out, the home side thought their luck may be in.
And as the Prestwich defence lost their shape and composure, Woolpack first capitalised on a dubious free kick award for their second before a near post header from a corner on the right cut the visitors lead down to just a single goal. Squeaky bum time and 15 minutes remaining…
Buckley was then denied a fifth after a narrow offside decision before a couple of Woolpack attacks were successfully dealt with by the visitors as they searched for an equaliser.
Thankfully Prestwich weathered the storm to gain the three points which moved the Heys Road side up to second in the Premier Division ahead of next weeks Millennium Cup first round tie at Huntley Mount.
AlanM
