Alty Hale couldn’t have started 2015 with a much tougher fixture.  Prestbury are one of the hardest working outfits in the district, and with the freezing cold conditions and heavy pitch to add to the rustiness of 3 weeks off over the festive period, a difficult afternoon could well have been expected.

 

The post Christmas rust was evident from the start, the entire back line guilty of mis-judging balls over the top which led to Prestbury chances on goal.  Fortunately the hosts had some rust of their own and failed to capitalise.  The Strikers in green and white weren’t fairing much better, both Lewis Carthew and Jack Yates guilty of missing 2 one on ones each – Yates coming closest, striking a post before excellent work from strike partner Carthew down the right teed him up on the penalty spot, only for Yates to put wide.  It was a case of third time lucky for Yates however on the half hour mark when he was put through to calmly slot past the oncoming Prestbury keeper.  After the opening goal the game started to become stretched with Reid and McEneaney getting plenty of joy down the flanks.  However chances continued to be squandered and it could have been level at the break – Jones getting down well to a low shot following a penalty area scramble.

 

In the second half the game continued to be wide open – understandable in the conditions and on Prestbury’s huge pitch.  However it was more like one way traffic and the wide men again, along with the excellent Chris Booth, continuing to carve out chances at ease due to their hard work.  Garner and Black were mopping everything up in Centre Mid as well, so it was no shock when Booth cheekily flicked in a second after good work up play and a cross from McEneaney.  Yates would soon add a third from a similar position.  The Lions continued to waste good chances, most noticeably Clamp and Carthew when through on goal, although he was suffering from cramp by this point.  Prestbury pulled back a consolation with 8 minutes to go from an all too easy through ball, but they never really pushed for more than this in the time remaining.  The rust out of the system and a few things to work on, but Alty Hale will be looking to cement their place at the top of the tree next week at home to APFC having gained revenge for September’s solitary blot on their 2014/2015 season thus far.

 

Alty Hale: Jones, Drysdale, Lamb, Lea, McEneaney, Black, Garner, Reid, Booth, Carthew, Yates.

 

Subs: Page, Clarke-Quirk, Clamp, Manion S, Lewis.

 

MOM: Garner

 

Cards: N/A

 

Goals: Yates (29 & 67), Booth (61)