Mike Kirkley’s amazing lobbed effort from the wing brilliantly disguised as a cross set the home side on their way against Division One leaders Prairie United at Heys Road on Saturday. The visitors leveled mid way through the second half before midfielder Tom Walsh popped up to regain his side’s lead with ten minutes remaining.
The reserves eased through to the quarter finals of the 2nd team cup following their win at Ashtonians Reserves. Goals from Darran Williams, Kieran Doherty, Jordan Clegg and Ryan Wood gave Liam Morrissey’s men a 4-1 success.
Drinkwater Park was called off on Friday so the Third team game against Rossendale Amateurs D was postponed.
Same situation at Outwood Road meaning the Sunday Team’s game against Summerseat tomorrow morning has also succumbed to the wet weather.
Prestwich 2, Prairie United 1
LAL Division One
On the back of last weeks disappointing defeat to Broughton Amateurs, Prestwich needed to bounce back against Division One leaders Prairie United last Saturday to stay in the leading pack.
Lee Metcalfe’s team started brightly and got their noses in front via the boot of full back Mike Kirkley after his attempted cross from the left flew over the United ‘keeper and in to the net.
The visitors had set the early pace in the division but their form had started to slip in recent weeks, picking up only two points from the last possible nine and Prestwich looked to capitalise on their lead and cement their position in the top three.
Also in the hunt for a place in the Premier Division are second placed Hesketh Casuals who were promoted as runners-up to Prestwich in Division Two last season. Prestwich entertain the Southport team on the 4th December at Heys Road which already promises to be a cracker.
Playing with a sole striker due to injury to leading scorer Sean Haslam, Prestwich continued on the front foot in the match but couldn’t find a finish to give themselves a cushion.
And with such a slender lead, there’s always a chance for the opposition and Prairie made the home side pay on the hour when a mix up from a cross allowed a forward to slot home for an equaliser.
Dangerous forward Danny Smith made a welcome return to action following injury, coming on for Matty Gaskell in the 75th minute and immediately started looking for a breakthrough for his team.
But it was midfielder Tom Walsh who finally restored the lead firing home from close range with just ten minutes of play remaining.
Lee Bushell went close with a near post drive while Smith rolled an effort just past a post as Prestwich searched for a third to make the game safe.
But another goal wasn’t to be required with Walsh’s strike being enough to secure the points and leave Prestwich just one point behind Prairie with two games in hand ahead of next weeks trip to Castle Hill in the Lancashire Cup 4th round.
PRESTWICH – Gibbon, Hopkins (Tyldesley), Kirkley (1), Kosub, Steadman, Taylor, Hill, Walsh (1), Gaskell (Smith), Ward, Bushell
