Air Miles Manchester League Premier Division

WYTHENSHAWE AMS...1

HIGHFIELD UTD...2

IT'S taken a long time coming but Highfield made their way back up the M60 towards Bury on Saturday with renewed confidence.

If they can reproduce the type of performance they showed at Wythenshawe in their remaining games they will finish far higher up in the table than they currently find themselves.

The triumph was only their first away win of the season.

The Ammies' playing surface was in excellent condition on the day and this encouraged both sides to play open attacking football.

This was typified by Highfield's first raid on goal after two minutes when a slick move down the left side saw Jackson deliver a cross deep into the Ammies penalty box, only for strikers Malius and Jarrett to arrive just too late to get a finish in.

Nevertheless, it signalled Highfield's intent on the day.

Highfield's Keeper O'Donnell was kept busy by the Ammies' sporadic attacks but his only moment of concern was when he had to deal with a pass back from newly re-signed sweeper, Chadwick.

O'Donnell attempted a "Cruyff turn" in trying to outwit the Ammies' Davies and fortunately he got away with his misdemeanour but all within the visitors' camp breathed a sigh of relief.

Highfield had to wait till after the break for their opening goal, and it was young midfielder Cowgill who put his name on the scoresheet.

He latched on to a through ball from full-back Keegan to coolly slot past the Ammies' keeper Bailly.

The game was about to take another twist in the 70th minute, when, under no immediate pressure from a deep cross into the Highfield penalty area, keeper O'Donnell plucked the ball cleanly from a melee of players.

His first thought was to despatch it upfield in an attempt to send striker Jarrett on the attack, but somehow he failed to see Highfield's defender Berry stood less than five yards from his kicking path and his clearance cannoned off the back of Berry and landed back in the Highfield penalty area.

Then, in his attempt to smother the loose ball he was adjudged to have impeded Wythenshawe striker Lamb and referee Mr Hines-Blackburn had no option than to point to the spot.

Substitute Habershon duly converted the spot kick to level the scores at 1 - 1.

After 80 minutes, there was a further twist when Ammies' centre back Preston, who had been yellow carded in the first half, committed a further foul on Highfield's Malius and the referee was quick to flash the red card.

Wythenshawe were desperately hanging on for the draw but they reckoned without the finishing skills of substitute Clarke.

The striker went close on two occasions with a header and a shot going wide of the target.

In the 85th minute, Cowgill won control of the ball in midfield and his driving run and shot on the half-volley flew past home keeper Bailly and rebounded back into play.

Clarke was first to react and forced the loose ball over the line.

The Victor Gladwich Land Sales man of the match went to midfielder Craig Cowgill.

Highfield United's first team squad entertain East Manchester at Seedfield Sports Centre tomorrow (2pm).

The Reserves' home match last Saturday was called off due to another waterlogged pitch. Tomorrow they are away to Swinton Town Reserves.

Both squads are requested to meet at Seedfield Sport Centre at 12.30pm.