NO JOY FOR SHOT-SHY PRESTWICH

Prestwich again returned from their travels empty handed following Wednesday evenings 2-0 reverse at Rossendale Amateurs.

In their fledgling debut season in the top flight of the Lancs Amateur League, the hard work that lies ahead is becoming plain to see.

Two games, two defeats, no goals and no points doesn’t make particularly pleasant reading but also doesn’t illustrate the bigger picture either.

Craig Howarth’s men could count themselves unlucky in Saturday’s opening day loss at Rochdale St Clements, but couldn’t really argue with Rossendale’s win here.

Indeed, Prestwich could barely get out of their own half in the opening twenty minutes as the home side pushed for an early advantage.

And it was no surprise when a forward sprang the visitor’s offside trap to calmly slot past Alex Blake in the Prestwich goal.

Then after 30 minutes, Rossendale doubled their lead. This time lady luck did play a part as a shot from outside the box took a wicked deflection to nestle in the corner of the goal.

This sparked a response from Prestwich as the half drew to a close. Firstly Joe Kosub sending a header over the bar before Lee Bushell fired a fierce low drive across the face of goal.

After the break Anthony Roberts saw a good chance saved as he slid in to meet Bushell’s centre but a combination of poor balls in the final third and Ammies solid defending and exceptional work rate made any comeback unlikely.

Prestwich did however enjoy plenty of the ball as they searched for a way back in to the game and although this made for an entertaining spectacle for the neutral, it was ultimately to be in vain.

PRESTWICH: Blake, Smith (Buckley), Kirkley, Kosub, Steadman, Taylor, Hill, Ward, Haslam, Roberts (Walsh), Bushell (Hoolighan)