Wythenshawe extend winning run against playoff rivals Prestwich Heys

Wythenshawe Town recorded their third successive win in impressive style, dismantling playoff rivals Prestwich Heys 3–1 under the lights at a rainy Ericstan park.

Tom Bentham’s second-half strike wrapped up the points for the home side after Louis Jeanne and Bruno Severino had netted to give Wythenshawe a commanding advantage going into the break.

Rory Fallon made three changes as the team looked to continue their rich vein of form following back-to-back wins on the road against Longridge and Skelmersdale United FC.

Wythenshawe Town came into the encounter with Prestwich Heys four points off the away side and seemed determined to close the gap from the outset, although it took 13 minutes for the team to craft their first clear-cut chance.

Lee Wilshaw rose highest at the back post to connect with an out-swinging corner from the right, the centre-back saw his goal-bound header from close range pushed over by Jordan Hadlow in the away sides goal.

Despite this early warning sign, Prestwich failed to react and had their set-piece frailties punished moments later.

From the following corner, Louis Jeanne capitalised on static defending, darting across the near post untracked to head home from inside the six-yard box.

Throughout the game, Prestwich were unable to live with Wythenshawe's set-piece threat and almost conceded from another corner midway through the first half.

Hadlow failed to cleanly claim an in-swinging delivery from the left diverting the ball into the path of Tom Bentham on the penalty spot.

Although the striker connected cleanly with the ball on the half-volley, he could not prevent his rising effort from sailing over the crossbar.

Despite this reprieve, Prestwich failed to stem the flow of chances for the home side and paid the price in the 28th minute.

Bentham was once again at the centre of the action for Wythenshawe, reacting fastest in the midfield to pick up a loose ball.

The striker then pierced the gap between Prestwich Heys’ centre-backs sliding the ball through to Bruno Severino who calmly slotted low past Hadlow into the bottom right corner to extend the home side’s lead.

Following a first half dominated by Wythenshawe, full of entertainment, the second period got off to a less exciting start with Prestwich intent on absorbing pressure to find a way back into the game.

The home side laboured to create any chances of note straight after the interval yet found themselves three goals to the good after Hadlow dropped a looping cross at the feet of Bentham.

Neat play involving Severino and the energetic Aaron Fleming down the left-hand side created space for a high, looping ball to be lofted in.

The cross appeared to be an easy catch for Hadlow although on a rainy night, the keeper let the ball squirm from his grasp to Bentham stood yards away who converted into an empty net.

From this point on, Wythenshawe laid siege to the Prestwich goal and must have missed half a dozen goalscoring opportunities in the remainder of the game.

Rory Fallon’s men would have had a fourth on the night had it not been for the linesman's flag.

Ten minutes from time, Chinedu Uche broke free down the right before standing the ball up for Fleming to score from close range.

However the attacker was adjudged to have made his run to the back post from an offside position.

With minutes left on the clock and the home supporters singing “It should’ve been ten”, Prestwich broke from midway inside their own half to reduce the arrears with a smart consolation goal.

Following clever play down the right by Jacob Ngoy, striker Greg Daniels diverted a low, hard ball across into the roof of the net.

This result sees Wythenshawe close the gap to Prestwich Heys and the playoff positions to just a point.

Rory Fallon's side will be hoping to continue this winning streak as the side look to progress to the third round of the Macron Cup at the expense of Stockport Georgians this Saturday.