Prestwich Heys 2-2 Steels

20/08/2022Last Updated: 22/08/2022

333 3 minutes read

Stocksbridge Park Steels will have to do it again after a late comeback denied them a win against Prestwich Heys in the FA Cup.

The Steels took the lead in the first half when Luke Rawson had the ball go in off his back and into the back of the net. They doubled the lead when Rawson stabbed home from close ranger. Kaiden Barlow headed in to get Prestwich back into the game before they equalised through Tyler James in the 90th minute.

Prestwich got off to the better start in the game and could have easily taken the lead. Dylan Fitzgerald gathered the ball on the left wing before breaking into the box and shooting. Harrison Davison-Hale saved well from this shot but the ball fell right to Mitch Bryant who had the goal at his mercy. Some how, he steered the ball wide from a great position and Stocksbridge were given a massive let off.

The Steels would get another let off from a corner kick, earned after another good save from Davison-Hale. The corner was whipped in and Omar Mbowe headed it goalwards at the far post. Some Prestwich fans thought it had gone in but thankfully for the travelling fans, it was in the side netting and not in the back of the net.

Stocksbridge were able to hold on and they were able to take the lead. Kurtis Turner earned a free kick close to the byline after being hauled in and Tomas Poole stepped up the whip in the free kick. Gareth Curtis got onto the end of it but it was when it bounced off the back of Rawson’s neck that it beat the goalkeeper and went into the back of the net.

The Steels would double their lead before the break. Turner found Jack Tinker with a great ball before the full-back put a fantastic cross into the six-yard box. Rawson was there to knock it in from close range for a goal that wouldn’t need to go in front of the dubious goal committee. This meant the Steels had a two-goal lead going into the break.

In the second half, Prestwich pressed as they looked to get back into the game and force a replay or maybe even more. After one corner, Davison-Hale was forced to make two impressive saves from close range which kept his clean sheet in tact for the time. Substitute James also flashed a shot wide when he broke through after a good ball.

Stocksbridge could have killed the game off though. Poole put in a great corner and Charlie Oglesby was onto it first only to volley it over from close range.

Prestwich would then get their goal back. They got the ball down the left hand side and Kaiden Barlow was able to head it into at the near post to set up a grandstand finish.

The momentum Prestwich now had could have easily been killed off by the referee though. Connor Berry went in with a two-footed challenge on the Stocksbridge player and it seemed almost certain he’d get a red card. The game was getting more aggressive and a nasty challenge on Tinker not only had players coming together but physio Sam Ewans was crowded around while he was treating the full-back. The referee backed out of a big decision though, instead booking Berry.

Prestwich’s momentum continued and they got an equaliser they were good value for. They earned a free kick on the right side after a Turner foul and the ball went in for James completely unmarked to head in and get what would be the equaliser.

Stocksbridge were so close to ruining the Prestwich party though. After a set piece had been cleared to the wing, Lewis Macaskill switched the play over Jordan Lemon on the right hand side. He put in a killer cross and Oglesby headed it into the bar, putting Prestwich hearts in mouths for a moment. Unfortunately, there’d be no winner for Stocksbridge and this game will be replayed on Tuesday night.

MOTM: Luke Rawson