Prestwich somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on Saturday afternoon as they squandered a two goal lead to lose at Chaddertonians 4-2.
With a planned alteration to their formation in an attempt to remedy the poor early season results, Prestwich started superbly and really looked to take the game to their hosts.
In only the fifth minute, the visitors finally grabbed their first Premier Division goal as Martin Hill crossed for Lee Bushell to slot home at the far post.
And it only got better as just a minute later the lead was doubled as Ashley Hoolighan headed a return ball in to the path of Darren Buckley who drilled past the Chad’s ‘keeper.
The shell-shocked home side then tried to hit straight back but a good save from Scott Gibbon in the Prestwich goal kept the two-nil lead intact.
Then after only 9 minutes, the first of three pivotal incidents that if they had different outcomes, would surely see Prestwich land their first three points of the season.
Firstly, Lee Bushell charged clear of the Chad’s back line but was clattered to the floor by the onrushing ‘keeper in the ‘D’.
Unbelievably, the referee only deemed this a yellow card offence despite the keeper denying Prestwich an obvious goal scoring opportunity. The resulting free kick was fired in to the Chad’s wall.
Then after half an hour, defender Mike Kirkley won his side a penalty but unfortunately Paul Taylor’s spot kick was saved by the ‘keeper who shouldn’t have even been on the pitch!
This breathed new life in to the home side and they immediately pulled a goal back with a good strike coming in off the left flank.
Just 3 minutes later, Joe Kosub had possession of the ball in midfield but was cynically tripped from behind. No whistle from the ref left the home side free to venture forward and earn themselves a free-kick on the edge of the box. This was duly despatched in to the roof of the net.
After the break, Prestwich carved out numerous chances to get their noses back in front. Lee Bushell saw a low shot fired across goal before a further two efforts brought good saves from the keeper.
Tom Walsh also saw an effort from distance saved but it was to be the home side that completed the turnaround in the 70th minute as a low shot was deflected past the wrong footed Prestwich ‘keeper.
As Prestwich pressed for an equaliser, it only took a further few minutes for the game to be made safe as a Chad’s forward went through one-on-one to score his side’s fourth of the afternoon.
Mike Kirkley’s ridiculous straight red card in the dying moments as he challenged for a loose ball just about summed up Prestwich’s day.
Premier Division Champions Failsworth Dynamos visit Heys Road this Wednesday.
PRESTWICH: Gibbon, Buckley (1), Kirkley, Kosub, Steadman, Taylor, Hill (Haslam), Ward, Hoolighan, Walsh (Smith), Bushell (1)
• Prestwich Reserves continued their good start to the season with a 3-0 win at home to Accrington Amateurs Reserves. Bradley Clegg, Danny Jones and Darran Williams the scorers. Prestwich ‘A’ Team drew 0-0 with Bury GSOB ‘A’ at Drinkwater Park in Division Five.
