DOUBLE AWAY DAY

1st September 2016 - St Helens Town 2 v 2 Prestwich Heys - Having missed a couple of matches this week due to punky and nature-based demands I was looking forward to this match at a temporary ground for the home side until their new ground is sorted.  Me and my good lady arrived at the home of Prescott Cables FC, purchased an impressive programme for the nights event and had a natter with a busy groundhopper about this, that and of course, t'other.  A cup of cha', up in the stands and the best view in the house was chosen to see these two evenly matched sides play out a fair and competitive affair.

The first half saw St Helens primarily hold the upper hand so it came as something of a shock when a blazing run from the Prestwich winger led to a cross being finished with consummate ease.  By heck that guy along the touchline didn't half shift and I for one failed to see who it was who had set his arse on fire - wow!  Undaunted the home team ploughed on and got a well deserved equaliser via the noggin of Phillip Williams on the 32nd minute.  The half was played out with both units seemingly happy to go into the break all level.  Before moving on to the second half it is important to mention a bat flew past the stands (I presume a Pipistrelle) and may be part of a roost in a tucked away niche - I hope they get looked after, grand creatures they be!

Second half and the main bulk was a stodgy, hard fought affair with both teams best likened to the cracked dentist in The Little Shop Of Horrors, a lot of prodding and poking but a failure to hit any delicate nerves was the outcome except for one moment when St Helens took the lead through a decent move that was sweetly started by a brilliant ball from the rear that left Prestwich always on the back peg and struggling to regain composure.  Dogged, rugged and frustrating would be the terms to describe the ensuing moments until the game suddenly sprang into life after Prestwich nailed an equaliser and put the scabby cat amongst the docile pigeons.  Now the away team pushed hard, tested the rear guard of the home side and for all intents and purposes won a decent penalty that the referee was only too willing to award.  Delight in one dug-out, dismay in the other - and then, unexpectedly, vice versa.  The liner ruled off-side, was duly labelled a shithouse and the match terminated in hectic fashion and with no winner declared. 

A footballing man's game with my personal Man of the Match being the No 6 for Prestwich Heys (Jacob Wood) who put in a consistently high performance and read the game well throughout.  Time and time again his crust was on the leather and when the ball was at his plates of meat he looked calm and controlled throughout.

FINAL THOUGHT - Like the testicles of an African Bull Elephant these two units were well balanced but despite throbbing with plenty of desire the end result was just a little infertile to impregnate the league with another winning result.  I think both outfits will steady things out though and should, by all the huffing and puffing, hold their own throughout the coming months.