Prestwich went into this game with 4 players returning after extensive layoffs and doubts over their match fitness while Rossendale rested some first teamers for their cup semi – final on Saturday. The early stages of the game primarily belonged to Rossendale who started with a high energy and a determination to get some reward. Mike Hudson had to make one excellent save low down to his right to prevent this and the defence marshalled by Richard Steadman stood strong. However the overall quality of their finishing and general play allowed Prestwich to grow into the game as their shaky start stabilised and perhaps against the run of play but with one of the best moves of the whole match they carved open the Rossendale defence, the final ball from Miguel setting up Sean Haslam to slot home for 1 – 0 in the 22nd minute. His tally was doubled in the 26th minute when another flowing move resulted in a cross from Brennan on the right being handled by a defender. Haslam rammed home the resulting penalty with conviction. Rossendale kept pressing and although both teams had chances the keepers were largely untroubled due to poor finishing, but Rossendale could perhaps feel a little unfortunate to not be on the score sheet at half time.
Prestwich brought on the returning Martin Hill and Craig French at half time for David Thompson and James Barlow, while the battling Chris Hopkins in for his first game for several months was holding up well and Stefan Rapacz also returning but as an emergency centre half was proving useful with his height and winning the majority of headers.
The second half saw no lessening of effort from Rossendale and they did miss a glorious chance after 50 minutes when a forward was in on goal but shot straight at Hudson with only the keeper to beat. After this the better quality of the Prestwich play was opening up the Rossendale defence who could not handle the pace and movement of Haslam, Hill and Rafal Straszewski who was improving as the game went on. Excellent chances to increase the lead were scorned by these three before another move carved open the Rossendale defence and Haslam cut the ball back for Straszewski to make it 3 – 0 in the 65th minute. To their credit Rossendale never gave up and missed a couple of half chances before being presented with an almost open goal by a bad pass from Barlow(back on for Steadman) but the forward steered his shot wide of the post with only Hudson to beat. Further efforts by Prestwich were typified in terms of bad luck when Thompson ( back on for the exhausted Hopkins) unleashed a trade mark thunderbolt from the edge of the box only to see it come back off the bar, he was the first to react but his follow up header also came off the bar and allowed the keeper to gather at the second attempt. Prestwich then saved the best until last when another move saw the ball land at Straszewski’s feet about 35 yards out and demonstrating great skill and confidence he ran at the defence evading 2 challenges and passed the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal to complete the scoring on 86 minutes.
The result still leaves Rossendale in relegation trouble and they face Prestwich again on 27th April but with the likelihood of fielding a stronger team. Prestwich now have the same number of points as last season, which is a major achievement after the first 9 games yielded just 1 point. The more recent form of the last 16 games has resulted in 35 points. A return that maintained over the full season would have made them championship contenders. This has been a truly great effort by all those who have represented the club this season.
PRESTWICH 4-0 ROSSENDALE
