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Heys can't furnish a win at Elton
Pilkington's late strike too little too late
ELTON VALE 3, PRESTWICH HEYS 1
Manchester League Premier Division, Sat 20th December 2008
Report by Alan Michaelovitz at Elton Vale Sports Club, Bury
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A dismal first half showing by Heys was punished by the home side with two quick-fire goals. Liam Morrissey's men were much improved after the break but once Vale grabbed a third from the penalty spot, Martin Pilkington's 76th minute strike was merely a consolation.
Vale's impeccable pitch greeted Heys for their first game of the festive period and a flowing move in just the sixth minute set Mat Jolly free only for the striker to fire wide past the far post.
Winger Jon Little then showed good skills to create space for himself inside the box only to then send his effort high over the crossbar as he looked to curl in to the corner.
The home side then enjoyed a period of pressure, forcing three consecutive corners with a forward heading the last of the set-pieces wide of Kieran Watson's upright.
But where Heys had been sloppy in front of goal, Elton were clinical and took the lead in the 34th minute when Heys old boy Abid Uddin ghosted in at the back post to neatly volley home a teasing left wing cross.
Heys hit back immediately and should have got back on level terms when Daniel Murray's towering header was diverted over the crossbar by brother Liam as the winger looked to make sure on the line.
Vale then punished Heys further and were exposed down the flanks again as another centre from the left was drilled in at the back post by Chadwick.
Prestwich have got used to turning games around over recent weeks, coming back from goals down in each of their last four matches. And Heys started the second half full of belief that this could be more of the same.
Martin Pikington's run and shot in the 60th minute was well saved before Daniel Murray was again brilliant in the opposing penalty area, forcing a finger tip save heading on a corner from the right.
But when a Vale forward was felled in the box and Stubbs sent Watson the wrong way from the spot in the 72nd minute, the game was surely now safe for the home side.
However, Pilkington had other ideas as only a minute later, the midfielder raced clear of the Elton defences to skip round the 'keeper and slot in to the empty net.
Michael Hoggard then out-paced his marker but sent his drive just inches the wrong side of the post before the blatant tugs of sub Ashley Oparah's shirt in the box went unpunished by the referee.
Despite the defeat sending Heys back down to ninth in the Premier Division, manager Liam Morrissey can take many positives from the second half showing ahead of Saturday's Christmas cracker away at second placed Springhead who are only 4 points ahead of the Sandgate Road side.
HEYS: Watson, Cunningham, Barker, D Murray, Johnson, Cutler (J Lewis), L Murray (Morris), Pilkington (1), Hoggard, M Jolly, Little (Oparah)
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