The Numbers headed to struggling Roselands Reserves in search of 3 points to continue their promotion push. After last week's excellent draw at Hawkenbury, only 2 changes were made with Henshall and Barker coming in for Westcott and Goldsmith. Betts, Ellis and Williams had to be content with a place on the bench.

With temperatures just above freezing, Roselands got the game underway and found Prime in a surprisingly tepid mood as they matched the visitors for the opening minutes.

Prime were gradually awakening from their slumber though and after Cary headed Fleming's corner straight at the keeper first time, he made no mistake on 12 minutes from another excellent Fleming delivery.

Prime doubled their lead a few minutes later when Ferguson and Barker linked up and Barker's mis-hit shot was turned in at the far post by Fleming.

The floodgates appeared to have opened when Barker's shot was half-saved by the Roselands keeper, but as the ball looped up towards goal, Nowak was on hand to nod home his first goal for the club.

Prime were then guilty of trying to overplay and not getting the ball wide to the wingers. Henshall in particular was out-of-sorts - being dispossessed on several occasions.

With 10 minutes to go until the break, Nowak burst down the left and was scythed down by the Roselands right-back on the edge of the box. When referee Gambardella gave nothing, Manager Goldsmith lost his cool - incandescent at the decision to wave play on. The ref then decided to send Goldsmith off and he was forced to watch the remainder of the game from the steps of the locked dressing room!

Just before the break, Carl Barker finally managed to notch his 50th goal for the club - finishing from close range.

At the break Prime were well aware that the performance had been patchy at best and changes were made with Ellis and Betts coming on for Sander and Nowak.

What followed was one of the worst 45 minutes of football that Prime have been involved in!

In fairness to Roselands, all of their players worked hard to close Prime down and made several desperate last-ditch tackles to deny Prime forwards, but all too often the final ball was lacking and shots were woefully off-target.

Efforts from Barker, Ferguson, Betts and Abu were all off target and all were chances that will need to be taken against better opposition.

The one goal of the half came when Barker delivered from the left and Fleming was on hand to volley home on the slide - a goal that his industry deserved.

Just after the goal, captain Abu (in Goldsmith's absence) switched Ferguson for Williams, with Walker and Henshall moved into more advanced positions.

The striker was frustrated with being taken off and although he had missed a couple of very good chances, he was certainly not the worst of a bad bunch in a frustrating performance.

At least at the other end Prime's defence remained solid and Sykes did not have to make a save for the duration of the 90 minutes.

At the final whistle Prime were happy enough with the 3 points, but they knew that against any other side in the league they would have been beaten heavily on that performance.

Goldsmith also apologised to the referee at the end of the match for losing his cool. It remains to be seen whether any further action will be taken.