Wingmakers defeat resolute Prestatyn Town
- Details
- Published: Sunday, 14 December 2014 09:32
AIRBUS gained a crucial victory to remain firmly in the race for second place with a 2-1 victory over Prestatyn Town at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium.
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The Seasiders may be languishing in the Welsh Premier's relegation zone, but they provided a sterner test than bottom club Bangor City had done a week earlier.
Nevertheless, a dominant second half display from the Wingmakers should have yielded more goals, but they were denied by a combination of poor finishing, some resolute defending and a fine display from keeper Scott Williams.
After Ryan Wignall had seen an early shot from a narrow angle saved by Williams, James Coates was forced into a good save by Andy Parkinson and a follow-up shot from Mike Prichard was cleared off the line to safety.
But nine minutes into the contest, the home side had the lead when a Tom Field free kick eluded the visitors' wall and was stabbed home from eight yards by Andy Jones.
Williams did well to cut out a Jay Owen cross from reaching the feet of Chris Budrys while, at the other end, Coates made a diving save to keep out Dale Lee's shot.
The Airbus wall proved as inadequate as Prestatyn's on 19 minutes when Parkinson's low set piece from the edge of the box levelled the scores.
Glenn Rule fired over the angle of post and bar from an Ellis Healing lay-off before the lead was restored.
A Wignall cross found Budrys with his back to goal and well-marked by Dave Hayes, but the striker somehow managed to hook the ball past Williams with a superb finish.
Healing should have added a third on 35 minutes, but his downward header bounced off the pitch and hit the crossbar.
A header from Jones was punched away by Williams, while Parkinson had a shot blocked at the other end, before Field was inches wide from 22 yards.
A poor clearance from Coates almost gifted Prestatyn an equaliser just after the break, finding Lee who passed for Pritchard to draw a diving recovery save from the keeper.
Williams parried a dangerous Wignall cross and Rule blazed wide as Airbus stepped-up the pressure with some slick passing moves.
Good work from Wignall drew another good save from the busy Williams, while Healing headed inches over from an Owen cross.
Healing fired over the target in the next attack before Wignall's header was cleared off the line by Ben Maher.
But the best chance for a third goal arrived in stoppage time when Rule fired over the bar when it was easier to hit the target.
Photos (top) Andy Jones stabs home the first goal and (below) Chris Budrys adds the second with a superb finish.