Prestwich slipped to a second consecutive Premier Division defeat on Saturday as visitors Rossendale Amateurs took all three points in a 3-1 win.
This leaves Prestwich with just 7 points from 8 games and looking nervously over their shoulder at the teams behind – some with four games in hand already!
And it was a quickfire early double that killed off Craig Howarth’s team as first a 14th minute direct free-kick managed to squirm through Blake in the Prestwich goal before a second was fired in just three minutes later.
That left Prestwich with a mountain to climb and although the team admirably battled away, Rossendale’s last line of defence was rarely troubled.
A late flurry of activity saw a visiting forward race clear to slot past Blake before Luke Smith’s cross found the head of Ashley Hoolighan who nodded in his 12th of the season.
But it wasn’t to make any difference to the destination of the points as Rossendale completed a league double over Prestwich following their 2-0 win at Marl Pits back in August.
Prestwich’s unbeaten home league record also fell with this defeat and with an away tally of played 4 lost 4, a trip to Old Boltonians awaits next Saturday.
Here is a team just two points behind Prestwich but with four games in hand.
The time to get the season back on track starts now.
PRESTWICH: Blake, Buckley, Bushell, Kosub, Steadman, Taylor, Hill, Walsh (Smith), Hoolighan (1), O’Donnell (Holden), Roberts (Daniels)
• Prestwich Reserves 100% record continued with a 5-1 win at Dobbies FC in Division Four. Jordan Clegg scored four goals while Danny Jones got the other for Liam Morrissey’s team.
• Prestwich A Team recorded a 7-1 win at Drinkwater Park against Ashtonians Reserves. Striker Shaun Jackson got his first 90 minutes since his leg break 14 months ago also grabbing two goals. Danny Frappola, Daniel Ingham (2), Roberto Monetti and Matt Smalley also on the scoresheet.
• Prestwich Sunday Team stay at the foot of the Premier Division table following a 5-1 defeat at Crown FC in Heywood. Mark Broderick scored the only goal for Jamie Comiskey’s team.
