Prestwich will hopefully return to action this Saturday as they entertain ninth placed Old Boltonians in the Lancashire Amateur League Premier Division at Heys Road, kick-off 2:30pm.
Two away games in early January were the team’s only competitive action since late November, and should the severe weather hold off, chances of getting this game on are good.
This will be only the second ever meeting of the two clubs and Old Bolt’s will be looking to avenge that 5-0 defeat Craig Howarth’s men dished out back in October up in Turton.
Goals from Tom Walsh, Sean Haslam, Darren Buckley and a brace from Lee Bushell sealed the points that day for 10-man Prestwich following Skipper Richard Steadman’s debatable sending-off after half-an-hour.
There’s not much between the sides in the form table – three losses and three wins in the last six for Prestwich while Old Boltonians have won two, drawn two and lost two.
The visitors are coming in to Saturday on a high though as they managed to get a match in last weekend, beating lowly Hesketh Casuals 5-2 in one of just two Premier Division games that day.
Prestwich, leading scorers in the division with 40 goals from 17 games and third best goal difference of +11, should be able to pick from an almost full-strength squad.
Winger Lee Bushell will be missing as he continues work on his Level 2 coaching badge. Defender Chris Hopkins is still on the road to recovery following his bad ankle injury back in September while Curtis Ward has left Heys Road and is training with Padiham of the North West Counties Premier Division.
Elsewhere, Prestwich Reserves travel north to take on fifth placed Old Blackburnians A in Division Four.
Liam Morrissey’s runaway league leaders – played 14, won 14 – will look to continue their 100% record but will have to do it without suspended leading scorer Jordan Clegg.
It’s sixth versus seventh in Division Five as Prestwich A Team host Howe Bridge Mills Reserves at Drinkwater Park. Andrew Howarth’s men have won their last three but, like the Reserves, haven’t played a competitive game since December 3.
And finally, Sunday morning will hopefully bring about the much-postponed Millennium Cup tie as Jamie Comiskey’s team travel to Hillock to take on Unsworth. Kick-off for this one is 10:30am.
If any of the games end up being postponed, we will post news on our Facebook and Twitter pages so stay tuned.
EDIT – Fri 03/02 5:30pm – Unsworth v Prestwich Sunday is OFF frozen pitch.
EDIT – Sat 04/02 10:30am – Old Blackburnians v Prestwich Reserves is OFF frozen pitch.
EDIT – Sat 04/02 11:10am – Prestwich Firsts v Old Boltonians is OFF frozen pitch.
EDIT – Sat 04/02 11:43am – Prestwich A v Howe Bridge Reserves is OFF frozen pitch.
