Dean Higgins 80th minute strike gave the Prestwich Sunday team a deserved 1-0 win against Millennium Cup semi-final opponents Cross Keys in the Premier Division, moving the Heys Road side up to third in the table.
On the previous day, Prestwich stretched their lead at the top of Division Two with a 4-0 home win over Oldham Hulmeians. Hesketh’s one all draw against Old Boltonians Reserves meant Lee Metcalfe’s side now sit seven points clear at the summit with five games to play.
Indeed, if Chaddertonians Reserves beat Bolton Ambassadors next weekend, one more win for the Heys Road side will see them promoted to Division One at the first time of asking, which would be a superb achievement for the team that was only put together last summer.
But first up was the visit of Hulmeians, a team which held Prestwich to a 1-1 draw at Tate Street back in January, and when Sean Haslam was felled in the box after just ten minutes, strike partner Shaun Jackson confidently despatched the resulting penalty kick.
Fifteen minutes later, Jackson sprung the Oldham offside trap and fired home at the second attempt to notch his 18th goal in 18 first team games so far this season.
However it wasn’t always one-way traffic as Prestwich ‘keeper Mike Hudson was called in to action to deny the visitors with two good saves as Oldham looked to get back in to the game.
Ten minutes after the break, the game was effectively over when an Anthony Roberts corner found Haslam whose low drive was touched over the line by midfielder Joe Kosub for his first goal for the club.
Then on 80 minutes, Mike Kirkley, making his full first team debut, latched on to a loose ball and launched a rapier in to the top corner from 20 yards giving the Hulmeians goalkeeper no chance.
Prestwich next take the short trip to Radcliffe Boys on Saturday, who put an incredible 16 goals past bottom club Astley Bridge in their last outing, for a match that could set those promotion champagne corks popping.
PRESTWICH: Hudson, Barnes (Hopkins), Kirkley (1), Lott, Steadman, Taylor, Roberts (Coyle), Kosub (1), Haslam, Jackson (2), McGovern (Howarth)
• Prestwich Reserves enjoyed a 3-1 win over Thornleigh ‘A’ at Moss Bank Park in Division Six on Saturday. Goals from John Blezard (2) and Carlo Balsamo got the win for Robbie Monetti’s side.
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