Prestwich enjoyed a late rally to overcome Broughton Amateurs 5-3 at Myerscough College on Saturday and sealed the Lancashire Amateur League Division One Championship in their last game of a thrilling season.
With a vastly superior goal difference over title rivals Hesketh Casuals, the Championship was already all but in the bag. However, a single point or more from this trip to Broughton would put Lee Metcalfe’s team mathematically out of reach.
Andrew Morrissey stepped in to cover for the suspended Scott Gibbon in the Prestwich goal while Kieran Watson and Mike Woodcock also joined the first team ranks for this last Saturday team game of the season.
With Reserves Manager Liam Morrissey caretaking for the unavailable Metcalfe, defender Paul Taylor got the visitors off to a perfect start after only seven minutes when he stooped low to head in his tenth of the campaign at the far post.
But just minutes later, a collision between the goalkeeper and a forward in the Prestwich box resulted in a penalty for the home side which was successfully despatched in to the bottom corner.
Five minutes before the break and striker Sean Haslam burst through the Broughton defences before being tripped by the arms of the home ‘keeper. Penalty kick and straight red card for the stopper.
Regular spot-kicker Taylor took his usual short run up but amazingly pulled his shot just wide of the post. It was the players first ever penalty miss in a career spanning over 20 years!
And Prestwich were made to pay just after the restart when a Broughton cross from the wing evaded everybody and sailed in to the top corner of the goal.
Then started a mad few minutes of goal action with Danny Smith first curling an effort in to the corner to make it two-all before rifling in a low free kick that squirmed under the stand-in ‘keeper to regain the lead.
Broughton made it three apiece on 65 minutes before a controversial incident gave Prestwich the chance to get their noses in front again.
Haslam outpaced the defences once again and this time was felled by a cynical kick to the legs from the Broughton ‘keeper. This time however, just a yellow card was deemed appropriate punishment for the stand-in goalie as he prepared to face his second spot kick of the game. Curtis Ward duly despatched with ease.
Darren Buckley fired in just before full time to make the game safe for Prestwich and the champagne celebrations could begin in earnest.
