Having not defeated Bowdon in the past six league encounters, Preston travelled to South Manchester with a youthful side – average age 24 – looking to build on last Sunday’s impressive cup win against Rotherham. A superb team defensive performance from Preston was the bedrock of Saturday’s triumph as the West Cliff men moved into third place in Northern Counties Premier Division. Head coach Dave Scanlon didn’t have to wait long for his side to hit their straps as they were 2-0 up within the first ten minutes, with the home side, virtually impregnable on home soil, in disarray. A rapid cross from centre-half, Tony Metcalf, was expertly guided in by Don Cock at the back post. Then two minutes later, 18-year-old Owen Fletcher in only his second 1st XI league game, directed a superb Sam Sinclair ball past a stationary keeper. Preston’s victory was based on stoical and skilful defensive work allied with intelligent and varied passing and some cool finishing within the D. Time after time, waves of Bowdon attacks broke on the back four of Tom Galloway, John Platt and the Sullivan brothers, Richard and David, ably assisted by the towering presence of Metcalf, stationed at the bottom of a midfield diamond. Goalkeeper Simon Eccleston was called on once to make a fine reaction save at the end of the first half but otherwise was relatively untroubled as his defence continually shepherded any incoming dangers away from the D. At 2-0, Preston emerged from the interval in defiant mood, and with Fletcher now sidelined due to a foot injury, Scanlon rotated his spare man to good effect as swarms of white shirts surrounded and frustrated their opponents. Whilst Bowdon moved three and then four men into their attack, Preston looked dangerous on the break as first Martin Scanlon, suffering from a cold, skipped past a couple of challenges to win a penalty corner from which Cock shot narrowly wide. Then Duncan Scott, a pocket-size battleship of a forward, cut inside from the right flank and raced in through to goal, only to be thwarted by a smothering save from the goalkeeper at the near post. All the while, Preston’s iron-will to win manifested itself in defence, with full backs, Richard Sullivan and Platt, expertly reading and breaking up play. Half-backs, Galloway and David Sullivan, both applied deft defensive touches and pressure-releasing hits away from goal when it mattered most. As time ticked down Sinclair, an icon in the midfield, broke from his marker and evaded a static defender before hitting a powerful shot which rebounded from the keeper’s pads to Carl Sanderson who from the top of the D volleyed the ball (reverse stick) magnificently past two outstretched sticks to put the game beyond doubt. A fitting reward for Sanderson’s speedy and tireless work down the left. Scanlon's verdictHe said: "This was our best performance of the season to date because it was a true team performance based on excellent defensive work, intelligent movement and clinical finishing. "However, our feet remain firmly on the ground as we clearly have areas to improve on for the next game against Timperley." - Preston travel to Timperley this Saturday, who took a good point from Durham University last weekend. On Sunday, their Lancashire Cup campaign starts with a home fixture against Urmston.
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