Prestwich’s five match winning run became a mere unbeaten run in bitterly disappointing circumstances with the hosts, last season champions scrambling an equaliser in the dying seconds of the game.
It was particularly disappointing given Prestwich’s first half dominance which could easily have seen them go in three goals to the good at the interval.
A revitalised Prestwich were in the ascendency from the start, first to the ball and playing some delightful football on the excellent 4G playing surface. With a creative midfield triangle of Sam Holden and Stefan Rapacz at the base and Matty Brennan at the head pulling the strings chances soon started to come.
The first few forays were squandered with some great work by strikers Tito Miguel, Mike Neary and Sean Haslam being undone by poor decision making and wayward shooting in the final third.
On 22 minutes the indefatigable Brennan burst through the middle and hit a cracking shot that agonisingly cannoned off the right hand upright to land in the path of Haslam who finished neatly, the goal however was cruelly disallowed through the ref adjudging him to be offside.
Defensively Prestwich’s changed back line of full backs James Barlow, Steve Lorenzini, and centre backs Richard Steadman and Krzysztof Rapacz were dealing authoritatively with everything the hosts offered in the way of attacks with Lorenzini doing particularly well pitched up against Mostonians main threat in the form of fast and very skilful left winger.
The hosts finally cracked on the half hour, Holden releasing Neary to go through one on one with the keeper, Neary’s first attempt was blocked by the keeper but he made no mistake with the second, smashing home to make it 0-1.
Prestwich had further chances to increase the lead in the remaining minutes Haslam having one golden opportunity in particular just before half time, dragging his shot wide when clean through just to the right of the box.
Worryingly as has been the case recently Prestwich never regained their first half momentum and were pegged further and further back as Mostonians desperately sought to claw something back.
However, such was the dominance and determination of the Prestwich defence they were rarely afforded a clear sight of goal and anything that did get through was being dealt with confidently by a very much in form keeper Mike Hudson.
Prestwich had a few more chances to kill the game off on the counter, with Haslam in particular firing just wide following a neat slick passing move between Brennan and Miguel. Brennan himself went close too, but the all-important second goal just wouldn’t come and Prestwich would be left to rue these missed opportunities.
With seconds remaining Mostonians having introduce subs, the left winger switching sides, and constantly re-shuffled were rewarded with their persistence with a messy goal following a hopeful ball into the box pinging around between people and deflecting into the net from close range.
