The start was dazzling, particularly so by the hosts, with the urgency to make an impression in this new campaign most blatant. An early free-kick was consigned to the files marked 'wank' but this, in no way whatsoever, dented the home teams initial ardour that was laden with zest. Heys, despite being on the back shank, did manage a free-kick that was sweetly delivered but the in-box mis-control banished all optimism as well as any chance of a shot on goal. Golcar continued to dictate when, from a seemingly lost position, their No 7 (Ryan Mackay) was out wide and being persistently harassed. He stood his ground, stubbornly refused to lose the ball and dug out a cross after riding 2 robust tackles. The ball entered the box, No 11 (Ben Burnett) floated in and executed a sweet touch that saw the ball find the inside of the net and break the initial deadlock. What an ideal start and what a way to sign, seal and deliver the potential of the early promise - game on!
From this point Golcar continued to apply pressure and a moment of exquisite
passing saw No 8 (Jordan Townend) release a middling effort that the mitter
could only parry to safety. The guests eventually got a slight foothold
in proceedings but as they advanced Mackay for the hosts pilfered and threaded
a pass to Burnett whose shot was very tame indeed and pissed on the chance to
double his side's lead. The Prestwich pack took heed of this scare and
began to advance with purpose. No 2 (Jacob Wood) roamed forth, received
in the corner and put in a pearling cross. No 11 (Will Shawcross) was in
the right place at the right time and buried via the crust - it was an
equaliser against the run of play but they all count.
No sooner had the balance been regained than No 8 (Bradley Sixsmith) for the
travellers had a dig that went just over. Had the tide turned? Did
Golcar have King Canute on the bench? Would a nude Telly Savalas
look-a-like parachute in and force the game to be called off? It is all
about questions, questions, questions! No 10 (Rio Wilson-Heyes) had the
next crack, the save that followed was adequate and then a free-kick was
awarded but No 9 (Shelton Payne) knocked forth a stinker and we stayed as we
were. The settled period that followed saw the hosts have a corner fisted
away which saw a long ball follow and the visiting Payne duly gallop after.
The home No 5 (Kiero Lawrence) was having none of it, stayed focused, read the
run of the ball and just did enough to force the striker into making a rather
rushed shot that went off target.
As the game approached the break No 10 (Michael Tunnacliffe) for United had an
effort fly high and then Prestwich Heys took their eyes off the task at hand,
allowed their opponents to string together a couple of in-box passes that
eventually fell to the tootsies of No 9 (Alex Hallam) who pinged the ball home
with very little fuss. Another shot soon after saw another gloved parry
and we were done. Golcar had their noses in front, I think they were
deserved of the advantage.
With 379 in attendance we stayed put for the break, chatted to the
aforementioned Richard and considered what would happen next. I fancied
the away team to turn this around, I gave air to my opinion, if one cared to
look closely enough one would have observed that all words came from the seat
of my pants - the cruder folk out there refer to it as 'talking through one's
arse' - ooh the plebians.
The second half started with good spirit although a few touchline verbals were
rather repulsive and I did feel for the many young nippers in attendance who
certainly didn't need subjecting to such pointless bilge. Heys cracked on
regardless, Wood found space, played a tidy ball that Payne collected.
The turn was rapid, the shot whacked off without thought, the side-netting was
ballooned inward - ooh heck. The game now became spicy, the heated
madness off the pitch spilled onto the pitch as several players came together,
postured, pushed and posed and then saw the darn silliness of the situation.
The next action was borne of the rising tension as the home No 1 (Harry Stead)
had a rush of blood, dashed out and lost the ball whereupon Payne let fly from
out wide but could only watch on as the ball flashed across the face of the
goal.
Proceedings progressed, shabby shots at both ends were donated, several
substitutions followed for each team as the dangling testes of success were
there for the grabbing - whose mitts of belief would be big enough that is the
question? The last 20 minutes were entered, some delicious link-up play
around the box was executed by the home pack, Townend shot after a swift 3 pass
passage, the ball just wouldn't stay down. At the other end, Wilson-Heyes
produced some dainty feet but could only find the side netting, were we in for
a hair-raising climax - if so, would it affect my balding pate - oh the
uncertainty of it all.
The final throes, a Heys free-kick was nutted over, it didn't matter, the
huffing and puffing liner was waving his flag anyway. A corner followed
minutes later, the delivery was decent, the keeper knuckled away, the return
shot by the substitute went wide, Golcar were holding onto their precarious
lead. During the last flings the resident team became a little frayed
around the edges and as the rain started to fall one did wondered if the dreams
of an opening day win would be washed away in an early non-league shocker.
I needn't have worried, after a Heys header was boomed over and Payne was
booked for impersonating Jacques Cousteau in the box (now he was a great
diver), the referee had seen enough and blew his trusted whistle - the home
fans seemed rather delighted. After farewells myself and my missus headed
home with a decent match under the belt at the start of another long season.
The first choice for Man of the Match this time around goes to Golcar United's
No 5 (Kiero Lawrence), for a never say die performance and for staying
quiet and focused throughout and being a definitive lynchpin in his team's
defence - perhaps he is one to watch, tis still early days but for now, well
played fella.
FINAL THOUGHT - For me, the difference today
was that Golcar United desperately wanted this one and put 110% in from the
first whistle to the last. They stayed rigid in defence, ran themselves
into the ground and were utterly determined to start this season off on a
positive note. Prestwich Heys were like a cannabis-soaked sprinter, very
slow out of the blocks and, when they did get running, they
were never allowed to settle due to their opponents high energy value.
These early matches are mere peephole glimpses of what may unfold in the coming
months but are far from a yardstick on which to make outlandish predictions.
Be under no illusions, come the final weeks Prestwich Heys will be there or
there abouts and Golcar will have to maintain this solid start to stay with the
pack. The home team have the support, they are on an upward curve but
these are hungry leagues and they will have many a tough encounter along their
journey. There are still many questions to be answered - so far its 1
down 37 to go - I am already absorbed.
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