Curtis Ward’s hat-trick helped the Prestwich Sunday team on to a 5-1 win over Duck Club in their Millennium Cup Quarter-final clash at Heys Road yesterday.
Management duo of Peter Lorenzini and Steve Clarke couldn’t have wished for a better start for their team as Darren Buckley’s third minute corner was nodded in unchallenged by Craig Howarth to give the home side the lead.
But just minutes later, that lead was wiped out as a misplaced pass in midfield was intercepted by a Duck player who ran at the Prestwich defence before setting up a team mate to slot home.
Howarth saw another effort ruled out for offside on seventeen minutes before Sean Haslam’s lay off was rifled in off the bar from the edge of the ‘D’ for Ward’s first of the game.
Ward slammed an effort against an upright with the Duck ‘keeper rooted to the spot as Howarth saw another header from a corner disallowed for a push just a minute later.
But the moment of the match arrived just before half time as left-back Joe Walmsley collected the ball just over half-way and activated Messi mode as he jinked through about six Duck players before poking the ball across the ‘keeper and in to the corner of the goal.
Curtis Ward went down in the box ten minutes after the restart but saw his resulting penalty well saved by the Duck goalie. Unfortunately for him though, the saved ball fell back to the feet of Ward who slotted in to the empty net.
And the scoring was complete in the 80th minute when Haslam’s square ball from the right set up Ward to tap in for his third and Prestwich’s fifth of the game.
The win set’s up a home Semi-final tie against Lizzy FC on a date to be arranged. AFC Woolpack will travel to Waggonmakers in the other last four match.
• Prestwich First Team dropped precious points in the Division One title chase following a one-all draw with Bolton Wyresdale at Heys Road on Saturday.
A mix up in defence gifted the visitors a goal in virtually their only venture in to the Prestwich half throughout the entire match.
Prestwich dominated but a mix of wayward finishing, superb goalkeeping and excellent defending kept the home side from getting the three points.
Darren Buckley got on the scoresheet for the home side to level things up as rivals Hesketh Casuals recorded a 1-0 win at home to Old Blackburnians Reserves to move back in to pole position a point ahead of Prestwich with a game in hand.
And it’s the big one next Saturday as the two teams who’ve lead the division all season come head-to-head at Heys Road in a clash that could go some way to deciding the eventual home of the championship trophy come this May. Prestwich v Hesketh Casuals kicks off at 2:30pm. Any support you can give would be appreciated.
• Division Five leaders Prestwich Reserves enjoyed a good 2-1 win over 4th placed Howe Bridge Mills Reserves at Drinkwater Park.
Anthony Lewis set up Phil Byrnes for a tap in on 20 minutes before the visitors leveled things up from the spot on the hour.
David McNally beat three men ten minutes later before squaring for Danny Jones who found the bottom corner to restore the home sides advantage.
There was panic for Prestwich at the death though as a free kick was well saved on to the bar by Kieran Watson before the rebound was hacked off the line by defender Dean Higgins to keep their lead intact.
• Prestwich ‘A’ Team travelled to Tottington United Reserves and enjoyed a 4-0 success to send Craig Howarth’s men to the summit of Division Six North.
The A Team started the game really well, taking advantage of the wide pitch and having some really good spells down the right flank.
Simon McMahon opened the scoring on 10 minutes when a good piece of play between him, Gareth Barnes and Anthony Roberts resulted in a Mcmahon cross that fooled everyone and looped over the top of the keeper!
Roberts and Lee Darbyshire pulled the strings in the midfield and with the movement from the forward two, Prestwich were creating numerous chances.
On 18 minutes, Tom “Delap” Gibson launched in a long throw which hit the crossbar and it was cleared just to land at Matthew Gaskells feet about 12 yards out to smash into roof of the net.
Continuing the pressure with loads of throws and corners, the third goal came from a corner on the left hand side taken by Roberts for Gibson to rise and head goalwards to take a deflection in off one of the Totty defenders.
The 4th goal again came just before the break from another throw off Gibson for Brian Leckie to win the flick at near post for an easy tap in for Daniel Ingham.
The second half was all about the battle in the midfield, with Mike Hudson in goal untested throughout the whole game!
Prestwich broke through on few occasions and although they lacked the final finish to increase the lead, the result was never in doubt for Howarth’s table-topping team.
