A seriously depleted side did incredibly well to keep the result in the balance right through to the 78th minute when a forth Rossendale goal killed off what was by then a nine man walking wounded Prestwich.
Having been let down by certain players Prestwich started the game with an eleven that included Richard Steadman and Sean Haslam who’d been press ganged into starting despite carrying debilitating injuries, Prestwich could have taken the lead in the 4th minute when Haslam was brought down for a penalty.
Possibly affected by the injury Haslam skied the shot and one was left to wonder what may have happened had that gone in and the side had been left with something to hold on to, rather than having to chase the game following Rosendale’s opener on 24 minutes.
The goal came following a neat run and shot down Prestwich’s right where Chris Hopkins was struggling to deal with Rosendale’s powerful wide man.
With Haslam now a virtual pedestrian up front and Prestwich effectively down to 10 men Rossendale increased the lead on 35 mins with a goal from the same source, this time a loose ball on the edge of the box saw Hopkins gearing up to clear but losing his footing to allow the winger to nip in an slot the ball past keeper Mike Hudson to make it 2-0 at the interval.
Prestwich re-grouped but soon officially went down to 10 men when Haslam exacerbated his injury and had to leave the field of play. Rossendale added a third on the hour but the expected avalanche didn’t happen as in a tremendous show of spirit and character the lads dug in deep and set about to try and claw their way back in the game.
Prestwich pushed Sam Holden further up the pitch the ball began to stick much more in the Rossendale half and Prestwich committed more men further up the pitch in support. Holden’s presence finally made space for David Prieto who fired one home from 8 yards on 70 minutes.
With Mike Neary making inroads down the right and Darren Buckley dominating the central areas Prestwich were in the ascendency and Rossendale clearly looked rattled. Another fine Neary run and cross found Buckley lurking at the back post, his firm header back across the keeper was pawed back out but everyone in the vicinity including the Rossendale keeper later confirmed the ball was a yard across the line, however the goal never stood as the ref’s angle was poor and he in turn later stated that whilst there was doubt he just couldn’t be sure.
Incensed with the injustice of that critical moment Buckley let his frustrations get the better of him soon after and following another incident was dismissed for dissent.
It was an incredible testimony to the spirit in this side that even with 9 men Prestwich continued to take the game to Rossendale and Holden who had a fine game was desperately unlucky to shoot over having seemingly held off the entire defense on a magnificent right to left run to work a path through to goal.
Prieto had another fine effort just pushed round the post by the keeper but it wasn’t to be and with Prestwich committing more and more men forward Rossendale killed the game off with a breakaway 4th goal.
