A depleted Prestwich crashed out of the Lancashire Amateur Cup on Saturday following a 4-1 reverse at home to North Lancashire League outfit Carnforth Rangers.
With six regular players out through injury, suspension and unavailability, manager Craig Howarth shuffled his available pack slightly. However, with the only backup on the bench being a player slowly working his way back to fitness after a long term injury and the manager himself, Prestwich hoped for no further knocks to their remaining players.
Currently sitting in third place in the North Lancashire League Premier Division, Carnforth started brightly but needed a helping hand to get their noses in front as a scuffed clearance from ‘keeper Blake was quickly turned back in to the box for a forward to hit home.
And when that lead was doubled just five minutes later and a third added ten minutes before the break, Prestwich looked all but out of this season’s county cup.
But Joe Kosub raised hopes for the home side just moments before half-time as he rose to convert a cross from the flank.
Prestwich continued to plug away after the restart but found the Rangers defence a tough nut to crack as the visitors just protected what they had.
And any lingering hopes of an unlikely come back were dashed completely when Carnforth grabbed a fourth ten minutes before time.
Although Prestwich reached the quarter-final stage of this competition last year, going out at the first hurdle may not be a bad thing this time out. Newly promoted to the LAL’s top division, the Heys Road club definitely have bigger fish to fry over the coming months.
PRESTWICH: Blake, Buckley, Kirkley, Morley, Kosub (1), Walsh, Smith, Roberts, Napier (Jackson), Taylor (Howarth), Hill
• Prestwich Reserves continued their 100% start to the season with another bucket load of goals. This time seven without reply for the second game on the trot at Bolton Wyresdale Reserves. Jordan Clegg (3), Danny Jones (2), Rhys Hardie and Mike Seers the goalscorers. Liam Morrissey’s side already have a +21 goal difference after just 4 games of the season. Is the title race in Division Four over already?
• Prestwich A got back in to action after a week off with a good 4-1 win over Rochdale St Clements B at Burton Park. Goals from Matthew Smalley (2), Danny Ingham and Daniel Frappola meant Aaron Saunders’ side move up to fourth in Division Five.
• Prestwich Sunday Team went down 4-2 at home to Duck Club. Goals from Shaun O’Shea and Mark Broderick were just consolations for Jamie Comiskey’s team in the opening game of the new Premier Division season.
