As most of the league calendar fell foul of frozen pitches, Prestwich enjoyed what was one of just five fixtures played across all eight divisions of the Lancashire Amateur League on Saturday. Strikes from Joe Kosub, Darren Buckley, Sean Haslam (2) and Curtis Ward gave the Heys Road side a 5-2 win over Thornleigh.
Prestwich 5, Thornleigh 2
Lancs Amateur League Division One
PRESTWICH looked back to get back to winning ways following their narrow loss at Hesketh a few weeks ago and started this game in determined mood with new signing Ian Hutchinson (ex-Bury, Prestwich Heys, Walshaw Sports and Ramsbottom United) poised to make his debut from the bench.
Lee Metcalfe’s men surged in to a 10th minute lead when skipper Joe Kosub rifled in an effort from distance that beat the Thornleigh ‘keeper all ends up.
However, the difficult conditions under foot meant lots of slipping and misplaced passes but the home side were adapting well and were putting in a superb performance in the opening period.
On 35 minutes Sean Haslam raced through and slammed his effort against the crossbar but the ball bounced out to Darren Buckley on the left edge of the area who volleyed the ball back over the ‘keepers head and in to the far corner.
Haslam then found the woodwork again as a post denied him with Tom Walsh’s follow up shot then finding the crossbar – the latter being pulled back for offside to spare the midfielders blushes!
But Haslam wasn’t to be denied just moments before the break as a surging run out of defence and resulting through ball by Richard Steadman gave the striker a chance to round the ‘keeper and slot his side’s third in to the empty net.
On the hour it was Walsh’s turn to claim an assist as he picked out Haslam on the edge of the box to round the ‘keeper and find the net for a second time.
And two minutes later, Curtis Ward ventured forward from left back and struck in to the opposite corner from distance to notch Prestwich’s fifth.
As the home side relaxed their stranglehold on the game, Thornleigh enjoyed some of their best spells of the match and pulled a goal back when a ball in to the box caused confusion with defender James Tyldesley unluckily putting through his own net.
The visitors still had time to slot home a penalty kick following a badly timed challenge by sub Mike Kirkley but Prestwich were too far ahead for any sniffs of a late comeback by Thornleigh.
Hesketh’s two-all draw with Prairie United meant Prestwich moved back up to second place in Division One, a point behind but a game in front of their Southport based title rivals and ahead of Praire on goal difference but with three games in hand on the Burnley side.
PRESTWICH – Gibbon, Tyldesley, Ward (1) (Kirkley), Kosub, Steadman, Taylor (Hutchinson), Smith, Walsh, Haslam (2), Buckley (2), Bushell (Howarth). Unused Subs – None
