With no sign of manager Craig Howarth’s player situation improving any time soon, Prestwich’s thread bare first team showed great spirit and determination to hit back three times against 2010 league champions Little Lever at Heys Road on Saturday.
Prestwich went in to this game without the injured Chris Hopkins and Stuart Napier, the unavailable Martin Hill and Anthony Roberts and the suspended Mike Kirkley, Curtis Ward and Sean Haslam.
Manager Craig Howarth named himself in the starting line-up while the recovering Shaun Jackson and goalkeeper Mike Hudson made up the bench! Ashley Hoolighan came back from a one match suspension while a sun-kissed Richard Steadman returned to the centre of the defence.
And when ‘keeper Alex Blake fired a ninth minute clearance against the head of floored central defensive partner Paul Taylor for a bizarre own goal, Prestwich’s task was made that much difficult.
However, parity was restored immediately as an unfortunate slip by the Little Lever goalie allowed Hoolighan’s cross from the left to sail in to the net.
But after the visitors regained their lead eleven minutes later, Prestwich rallied to finish the half strongly. Danny Morley’s effort from the edge of the box was tipped on to the bar before Lee Bushell’s drive was well saved.
After the break, manager Howarth swung in a superb cross from the right that fell perfectly for Hoolighan to set himself and slot in to the corner for the equaliser.
Five minutes later and Lever were very fortunate to take the lead a third time as a forward at least three yards offside wasn’t flagged and left free to convert unchallenged.
However that injustice was corrected with twenty minutes remaining as Tom Walsh held off his marker inside the box to fire in low across the ‘keeper and in to the far corner of the goal.
Next up on Saturday is the trip to current Premier Division leaders Bury GSOB at Buckley Wells. Kick off 2:30pm.
PRESTWICH: Blake, Buckley, Bushell, Kosub, Steadman, Taylor, Howarth (Jackson), Morley, Hoolighan (2), Walsh (1), Smith
• Prestwich Reserves continued winning ways with a 4-2 win at Mostonians Reserves while the A Team suffered a 3-1 reverse at Radcliffe Town A. The Sunday team went down 8-1 at champions Wagonmakers in the Bury Premier Division.
