Airbus FC return to the top of the table with a hard-fought victory over Prestatyn

A strong blustery wind made it tough for either side to bring the ball down under control in the opening exchanges. Andy Parkinson’s swerving effort went close for the visitors on 11 minutes but neither side were edging it.

On 25 minutes Ryan Wade flicked a header wide for Airbus, but the game was developing into a gritty encounter played mainly in the middle of the pitch. On 37 minutes James Owen was played in by Glenn Rule but his shot was blocked on the angle before former Wingmaker Tommy Holmes got in the way of a Steve Jones strike.

Just before the break Phil Bolland headed off target from a Tom Field break with the Wingmakers looking the more lively side. However it remained 0-0 at half-time after a fairly uneventful first-half. Almost immediately after the interval Lee Hunt took a snap-shot which just went wide of James Coates’ near-post, a reminder that the Seasiders posed a threat going forward.

The visitors showed more attacking intent in the opening stages of the second-half and this opened the game up for both sides. Carl Murray and ex-Wingmaker Jack Lewis both carried the ball forward for the visitors, but finished with tame efforts easily dealt with by Coates. At the other end Ryan Wade cross for Steve Jones whose shot on the edge of the six-yard box flashed wide of Jon Hill-Dunt’s goal.

On 55 minutes Rhys Owen picked up a yellow card for Prestatyn for obstruction. Following a spell of Prestatyn pressure the Wingmakers replaced Steve Jones with Sam Hart just past the hour. Shortly after Chris Budrys had a goal ruled out for offside as the game went from end to end. Mike Pearson then glanced a header wide before Hill-Dunt made a good stop from a Lewis Short drive at goal.

Mike Roddy fired an attempt straight at Hill-Dunt as the Wingmakers increased the pressure on 68 minutes. The rain then hammered down and made the conditions even more difficult for both sets of players, as Lee Hunt was booked for dissent. Sam Hart made a terrific challenge to deny Hunt minutes later as the visitors broke.

The Wingmakers nearly took the lead with 20 minutes to go when Hill-Dunt raced out of goal and was nearly caught out by Lewis Short’s long-range effort. Heading into the closing stages both teams had everything to play for. With quarter of an hour to go Airbus replaced Mike Roddy with Steve Abbott.

With just over 10 minutes to go the deadlock was finally broken. Sam Hart cut the ball back from the right, for Tom Field to drove home with a low shot inside the area – to give Airbus a well-earned lead. With only a few minutes to go Prestatyn kept pressing and replaced Jack Lewis with Reece Fairhurst.

As the clock ticked past 90 minutes a slip by Tommy Holmes let Ryan Wade in to fire home at the near post. The goal made it 2-0, and the game safe for Airbus. A long-range Tom Field effort nearly caught Hill-Dunt out before Ryan Wade was replaced with Zyaac Edwards for the final minute. Prestatyn’s Chris Davies picked up a booking for a late challenge before the referee called time on what had been a close game.

The Wingmakers had kept their magnificent unbeaten run going and taken the points on an afternoon when they had been battling the opposition and the elements.