Prestwich put in a stunning performance as Lee Metcalfe’s team smashed seven goals without reply against table topping and previously unbeaten Hesketh Casuals at Heys Road on Saturday.
There has hardly been anything between the two sides over the last season and a half as Hesketh were promoted behind champions Prestwich last term. And with this season’s first meeting back in January in Southport being settled by a late goal in the home side’s 3-2 win, another close encounter was expected again.
But with manager Lee Metcalfe’s stirring dressing room rallying call still fresh in their ears, Prestwich stormed out of the blocks and created two good early chances even before Sean Haslam’s opening strike in just the seventh minute.
Thirteen minutes later and Haslam turned provider as he squared to Darren Buckley to tap in to the exposed Casuals goal. A furious visiting defence were convinced the scorer was offside but a verbal volley at the assistant referee wasn’t the best move for a team already facing an uphill battle as a Hesketh player was shown a red card for his remonstrations.
Just before the break and Prestwich were three goals to the good as skipper Joe Kosub’s strike was diverted over the line by Curtis Ward.
On the hour, Haslam notched his second when he collected a ball over the top just ahead of the Casuals ‘keeper before rounding him to slot in to the empty net.
Defender Mike Kirkley hit an effort in to the roof of the net ten minutes later before Haslam scuffed the ball across the ‘keeper and in to the corner for his hat-trick and his 20th first team strike of the season.
There was still time left for Danny Smith to unleash a piledriver from the angle to bring up an unbelievable seventh goal for Prestwich as a stunned Hesketh wished for a quick final whistle to end their misery.
The win moved Prestwich back in to top spot in Division One, two points ahead of Hesketh who have an all important game in hand. But with Prestwich’s now vastly superior goal difference (+45 compared to Hesketh’s +22) and this heavy defeat fresh in their minds, the pressure is now on as the season enters the final straight.
The two clubs have traded blows all season in the race for the title and promotion to the Premier Division. Have Prestwich dealt a knockout blow with this result or can Hesketh beat the count and hit back?
What ever happens over the coming weeks, it’s sure to be an enthralling end to the season.
• Prestwich Reserves moved closer to the Division Five title following a 6-1 away win against Rochdale St Clements B. Kieran Comiskey, Danny Jones (2), Kieran Doherty and Jordan Clegg (2) the scorers for Liam Morrissey’s team.
• Prestwich A Team’s planned home game against Old Blackburnians B was postponed at lunchtime following a phone call from the opposition manager saying they couldn’t raise a team. At this stage, the game is expected to be rescheduled for a later date.
• Prestwich Sunday Team enjoyed a slightly flattering 5-0 win over the Commercial at Manchester Road in the Bury Premier Division.
With many players still suffering from the excesses of the previous evenings fundraising race night, the team’s play lacked its usual cutting edge as hosts Commercial threatened on numerous occasions in the opening half.
But on 27 minutes, Martin Hill made space in the box and saw his parried effort fall to Curtis Ward who fired home to give Prestwich the lead.
The game was still in the balance though and Prestwich searched for a second goal to make the game safe. That goal finally arrived on the hour as Darren Buckley fired in at the back post.
As the home side’s heads dropped, Prestwich finally got back in to gear as Joe Kosub poked home Haslam’s 70th minute lay-off. Hill set up Ward for his second of the match 10 minutes later before Haslam raced through with just five minutes remaining and drove in to the corner.
