PRESTATYN TOWN 2
AIRBUS UK BROUGHTON 2
SUBSTITUTE Darren Hughes so nearly sealed what would have been a famous win for Prestatyn over nine-man Airbus when he struck the bar deep into injury time of Friday night's Welsh Premier barnstormer at Bastion Gardens.
Hughes, who bagged over 70 goals for Point of Ayr in the Clwyd League last season, almost wrote himself into Seasiders folklore with virtually his first touch when he sent a fantastic chip over Wingmakers keeper Niki Lee Bulmer only for the ball to rebound off the underside of the crossbar.
Town had already moved mountains after coming back from 2-0 down to pull level thanks to player-manager Neil Gibson's 90th minute penalty to calm the nerves ahead of Friday’s big game at The New Saints.
On the balance of play Airbus could have been out of sight but for the heroics of Prestatyn keeper Dave Roberts.
It was turgid stuff until 28 minutes when the Airmen's Michael Hayes sent over a fine cross for Whitfield whose downward header forced Roberts into a fantastic save.
However, from the resulting Glenn Rule corner, former TNS defender Tommy Holmes' near-post header could only be helped into the net by Roberts.
A minute into the second period they made it 2-0 when Hayes latched on to a long ball, controlled neatly and drove beyond Roberts into the bottom corner.
The Wingmakers did not help their cause when Craig Whitfield got a second yellow after a dangerous challenge on Chris Davies.
A succession of yellow cards followed as proceedings became heated, but
Prestatyn never gave up the ghost and Michael Parker made it 2-1 on 69 minutes.
Roberts denied both Rule and Ian Sheridan before the ex-Liverpool keeper did superbly well to tip Sheridan's rocket on to the top of the bar.
However, Roberts saved his best save for a minute later when he pushed Rule's point-blank missile behind for a corner.
At this stage no-one could have denied Airbus the three points, but this is Prestatyn at Bastion Gardens and they never surrender.
In the 89th minute a long ball bounced into the Wingmakers' area, Rogers leapt to head goalwards and Holmes handled on the line.
Holmes was red-carded, the penalty was awarded and Gibson lashed home for 2-2.
Friday’s game kicks off 7.30pm.