As has become standard when we play this opposition Prestwich fell to a late winner having fought their way back to draw level with about five minutes to go.
In a highly competitive and compelling game which swung from end to end throughout Prestwich will consider themselves to be very unfortunate not to come away with something. In fact had they been more clinical in front of goal they could well have come away with all 3 points.
Having started well taking the game to Failsworth, Prestwich could have been 2 up in 25 minutes, firstly Milkiya Ghebremariam broke through on goal, chipped the advancing keeper but saw his effort drop over the bar. Then from a set piece Richard Steadman was desperately unlucky to see a great header come back off the far post into the keepers arms when he was well beaten.
Within a minute though they were one down as a long ball was just reached by a speedy forward ahead of a defender and keeper to toe poke the ball into the net.
Despite all their efforts Prestwich could not force an equaliser and on the stroke of half time went 2 – 0 down when from a corner a looping head from the edge of the box somehow found its way over keeper Alex Blake into the net.
The pattern of the game continued after the break with both teams pushing forward whenever possible. Prestwich were back in the game on 57 minutes when new signing David Kuba- Kuba scored an exceptional debut goal. Picking up the ball outside the box he slalomed past 3 players turned sharply and guided the ball into the far corner.
Chances came and went at both ends and despite Prestwich having a lot of the ball, Failsworth were a constant threat at the other end. They did pull 2 goals clear again on 65 minutes when a towering header from a corner was powered past Blake in goal.
But Prestwich never gave up and another new signing James Mercer nearly reduced the deficit when he nipped in beyond a defender and chipped the keeper but saw his effort land on the top of the net.
Shortly after Prestwich were back in the game following a fumble by the keeper which allowed Ghebremariam to keep his composure to tap the ball in for 3 – 2 on 77 minutes.
The never say die attitude shown by Prestwich produced further reward on 84 minutes when from one of several corners Callum Pragnell steered in a great header for 3 – 3 and it looked like Prestwich were going to get what they richly deserved.
However it has been a historical fact that Failsworth have a habit of scoring very late goals against Prestwich and so it turned out they did it yet again. When a counter attack caught the Prestwich rear guard short on cover their very lively left winger steered in the winner in the 88th minute to give them a win they had worked hard for but over the 90 minutes probably didn’t really deserve.
Prestwich though can take heart from the fact that despite having no reward from the last 2 games they have performed very well against possibly the best 2 teams in our league.
