Prestbury Rovers clinched a second win of the division on Saturday after a comfortable 3-0 win against Leckhampton Rovers at the Prestbury Playing Fields.
Rovers made the stronger start, with Adam Gaunt having had the first shot on target within the first minute of the game which tested Leckhampton’s keeper to make an athletic save.
The away side started to pick up momentum straight away with their first crucial chance coming to Connee Hargrave who found himself free inside the 12-yard box after making a great run but he couldn’t capitalise.
It was a hectic first ten minutes into the game with both sides splitting possession and containing equal number of chances to put their side up however neither could find the back of the net.
Leckhampton’s number eight Hargrave had the next opportunity when he found himself breaking through a shaky Rovers defence.
However, Rovers captain Ryan Bignall was not happy having had a serious appeal just before Hargrave nearly put their side up after the ball hit the oppositions hand, but the referee played on.
A real open goal chance was missed from the home team where Jamie Brace had been gifted the ball perfectly but it was wasted as he missed kicked the ball which sent it completely wide.
The pressure didn’t stop there as Rovers captain Bignall was unmarked and had the ball float towards him but another opportunity was poorly wasted as he headed it over the top of the crossbar.
Again, Prestbury’s Josh Hepplewhite crossed the ball into the box however due to windy weather conditions, the ball swirled to Leckhampton’s keeper Jack Eckwoth and found himself having to use all his flexibility to make a fingertip save onto the bar.
The second half began with Rovers pressure continuing and five minutes in they had a dream opportunity squandered as Brace squared the ball to Gaunt who managed to blast the ball over the bar.
The deadlock was finally broken after Jake Roberts was gifted the ball inside the box. Two defenders having closed him down, Roberts managed to get a shot away and it trickled into the back of the net to put Prestbury one goal ahead.
The men in blue and black continued to apply pressure on Leckhampton as starman Gaunt scored the second goal of the game to put his side 2-0 up.
After a long spell of no chances Leckhampton came close finally, this time Glenn Hozier managed to cut inside on his defender onto his rocket of a left foot to which the keeper had to make an athletic save.
It was more horror for the away team as substitute Giles Elliott secured the final goal of the game with just minutes before stoppage time to finish the game 3-0 and Rovers took all three points with them.
Prestbury’s Secretary Grant Clark was happy with his team performance as this game was a potential boost as they finally got themselves out of the relegation zone,
“Ultimately, we were on top majority of the game and created big chances and the game could have been closed earlier on if we took our opportunities better.”
“The strength and depth of our substitutions got us over the line for an important three points and we have finally kicked off the season after the Christmas break.”
“In two weeks time we play Leckhampton again which will be a really big opportunity for us to win back to back league games against the same opposition and move further up the table.”
Prestbury move their focus to the Junior Charity Cup as they take on Shurdington Rovers on the 14th of January at Prestbury Playing Fields.
