Report: Prestwich 0-4 Colls

The Collieries traveled to Prestwich Heys for the second test of the David Chadwick era, running out 4-0 winners following a remarkably comfortable performance in difficult conditions against the physical & industrious NWCFL outfit. As with last week's maiden outing, it was again the trialist cohort who provided the all-important goals, making an exciting first impression with the Colls faithful. New signings Lewis Mansell & Josh Askew caught the eye from the off, combining along the right flank with Mansell probing the strength of the opposition offside trap, first hitting the post before later being denied a goal through a controversial offside call. Trialist #8 likewise caught the eye throughout, and notched his first goal for the club after twenty minutes play, firing a well placed shot into the bottom left corner from the edge of the penalty area, following industrious work from Lewis Mansell & Trialist #10. Trialist #10 made his own mark twenty minutes later, with the Colls finding the bottom corner once more, with Nathan Caine creating the goal with some tricky footwork. The second half continued with Josh Askew again exciting in the #3 role, notably finding himself unlucky not to notch a deserved assist with a great cross through the penalty area, frustratingly narrowly evading the efforts of multiple Stripes shirts from point-blank range. Reinforcements came throughout the pitch with a sequence of substitutions on the hour mark, with Jesse Ebosele and Adam Rooney providing familiar faces whilst the traveling loyal also got their first glimpses of Trialist #17. It was indeed Trialist #17 who went on to seal the deal for the Collieries against an increasingly agitated Prestwich. Josh Askew's efforts finally bore fruit upon combining with Trialist #15, laying a perfect cross for #17 to convert. A second goal for the #17 soon followed, a long ball forward by Askew was misjudged by the Heys' keeper, which was capitalised upon by the ever indomitable workrate of Jesse Ebosele, pouncing to create the opportunity for the debutant to convert his second. Though it was the forwards who caught the eye and the headlines, credit certainly remains due to the new look Colls midfield and back-line, who nullified all opposition threat with comfort throughout. Josh Askew capped off his own impressive performance in the dying embers of the match, contributing a perfectly timed tackle to prevent a goalscoring opportunity for the Reds. The Colls are next in action on Tuesday night, welcoming Padiham to the Skuna Stadium, whilst next weekend we host the traditional fixture against our friends Bolton Wanderers. Ticket details for the Bolton fixture will be announced imminently. The Colls: Nico Defreitas-Hansen, Jack Evans, Josh Askew, Sidi Fofana-Sanogo, Trialist #7, Trialist #8, Lewis Mansell, Trialist #10, Nathan Caine - Substitutes (All Used): Adam Rooney, Jesse Ebosele, Trialists #14, #15, #16 & #17 The new & retained Colls players are all now available to sponsor. To find out more, please contact Nick at Nick@AthertonCollieries.co.uk