Soccer: Trying times for fuming Fold

Elton Fold 1 Prestwich Heys 4

THERE'S certainly nothing going right for Fold at the moment, no matter how much their committment is.

After matching their opponents in virtually every aspect of the game bar the most important one, two controversial second half goals and the dismissal of 'keeper Steve Crossley gave Heys the points and a scoreline that definitely doesn't reflect the balance of play.

True, the Prestwich side finished their chances stylishly, but not for the first time this season, Fold fell victim to some harsh decisions from the referee and his assistants that are certainly not being 'evened out', as the saying goes.

This keenly-contested 'local derby' burst into life with three goals in a five-minute spell that began in the 10th minute.

Heys front man John Garrick found himself in acres of space down the left channel and when the ball was threaded through to him he took it in his stride and neatly chipped Crossley, who, despite getting his fingertips to the ball, couldn't prevent it reaching the net.

In the 13th minute Fold equalised when Carl Lomax's deep cross was cheekily back-headed into the corner of the net by John Price, despite the attentions of his marker, who was a good deal taller than the Elton youngster.

But as Fold were still congratulating themselves on getting back on level terms they quickly conceded another goal.

If the first one was slack marking the second was even worse, for as well as leaving opponents free as Heys again broke down the left, two defenders failed to clear the ensuing low cross to the near post and Brandon Jolly tucked the ball away to regain the lead.

The rest of the half was evenly contested with Eddie Barnes doing a sterling job in the Heys midfield and in the same department Fold's Stefan Shaw was a tireless worker throughout the match, although he was short of assistance on some occasions.

The only time anyone came close to finding the net in the remainder of the half was in the 43rd minute when Fold's Steve Proudfoot found space in the centre of the Prestwich defence, but his rising drive just cleared the crossbar.

Elton started the strongest in the second period and were desperately unlucky not to find the net. John Armstrong crashed a shot against the post from a narrow angle and Johnston pulled off two tremendous saves to deny Smith and Lomax.

But all the pressure wasn't rewarded and in the 65th

minute, with virtually their first real raid of the half, Heys grabbed a third goal with a swift counter attack. Fold's appeals for offside were ignored by the linesman as Denham burst forward and his low shot was too strong for Crossley.

Worse was to follow five minutes later when Denham

again broke clear, only for the Elton custodian to rush out of his box.

A mistimed lunge sent the Prestwich man crashing to the ground. Fair enough, the ref produced the red card, but what infuriated Fold was the fact that Denham was very fortunate to still have been on the field, having been cautioned in the first half then subsequently getting away scot free with two more offences that are normally punished with a yellow card, thus making it two yellows and the automatic red one.

Centre back Steve Dearden took over between the sticks, but within seven minutes he was picking the ball out of the net as the Fold players and management had steam coming out of their ears.

If the third goal was debatably offside then this one was blatant. Five yards, and that's being generous, was the distance that Heys' Anthony Jackson had in hand on the Fold defence, right in front of the man with the flag.

The Prestwich forwards were already quite quick, but with that kind of a lead only a four-legged creature out of trap 3 would have a chance of catching them, and Jackson made no mistake with a cool finish.

When Fold's temperatures had dropped to ninety nine degrees they still had enough left to create some chances.

There was the welcome sight of Dean Donohue coming off the bench for his first action of the campaign after a pre-season injury and he soon made an impact with his midfield

promptings.

But it was another substitute, Ian Newton, who had the two best opportunities and should have at least hit the target from six yards out, first with a header and then with a volley.

But the final whistle eventually blew with Elton bitterly disappointed at the result, knowing the scoreline should have been much closer.

The Reserves lost 5-1 at Pennington Reserves. Andy Matley scored the goal.

Tomorrow Fold are away to bottom club Stockport Georgians and the Reserves are at home to Dukinfield Town Reserves. Both kick-off's are 2.00pm.

There is also a full league fixture list a week on Saturday, December 30, when Fold are at home to Salford side Willows and the Reserves are away to New Mills Reserves.