Preston Defeated in Injury Time

MCFC Reserves 2 - 1 PNE Reserves

A rather eventful game against Preston North End was the first Totesport game for City in over a month; re-arranged to be played at Hyde United's Ewen Fields because the floodlights have become so poor at the athletics arena. The game was decided in the ninety second minute when Preston's goalkeeper Andrew Murphy could not keep hold of the ball from substitute Robbie Mak's shot on the left into the far corner of the goal.

The other two goals coming from the penalty spot; Preston opening the scoring from Adam Barton in the first half and Jack Redshaw restored parity in the second half.

The game was delayed about ten minutes due to the teams slightly late arrival and it was delayed further in the fourth minute when Abdi Ibrahim suffered soft tissue damage to his left knee and was stretchered off.

City then appeared to have a decent goal ruled offside as the player had run from behind the defence in the fifteenth minute. Only moments later substitute Dedryck Boyata was bundled off the pitch and appeared to hit his head on the brick wall. Again play was delayed; but when Dedryck came back on the pitch he looked a bit groggy and that state led probably to a clumsy challenge in the area on Ryan McGreevy and the referee had no choice but to award a penalty which Adam Barton converted.

The game certainly did not hold any punches as Preston took quite an aggressive stance and after Preston's Phil Appiah was booked he was substituted for his own good before he was sent off.

City started the second half very brightly with John Guidetti and Redshaw combining well but putting their efforts wide. City again had the ball in the back of the net in the fifty sixth minute but was ruled offside again. A minute later however Preston gifted City a goal when Guidetti was marshaling the ball behind for a corner was ceremoniously bundled over by Neal Trotman with a big push right on the edge of inside the area. Redshaw took a few steps before firing into the top right of the goal to level things up.

City looked the busier of the two teams as they chased the win; but did not create any decent chances for a while. Indeed with three minutes remaining Preston nearly snatched it themselves when Danny Mayor's out swinging cross straightened up and swerved towards goal that James Wood did well to save.

City had the last laugh however when in the ninety second minute Adrian Cieslewicz fed a good ball into the feet of Redshaw who saw Mak running into space and he fired across Murphy and he could not hold onto the wet ball as it lodged itself into the far corner of the goal.

That victory leaves City well placed in the league with a few games in hand on most teams and look to be in with a shot at challenging for the(north/midlands) title once again.


City: Wood(GK), Smith, Obeng, Ibrahim(Boyata 4), Tse, Carter, Cieslewicz, Elabdellaoui, Redshaw, Guidetti(Mak 73), Frater(Chantler 67).

Subs: E Johansen(GK), Wabara.


Preston: Murphy(GK), Stott, Quirk(McLaughlin 46), Appiah(Miller 40), Smyth, Trotman(C Barton 74), Mayor, A Barton, McGreevy, Turner, Dougan.

Subs: Cudworth(GK), Proctor.


Att: 94.