Saturday’s game against Elton Vale was a carbon copy of the previous weeks game v Hollinwood. Both times Heys were far superior and took the lead but didn’t have the experience or the edge to see out the games.

Heys started the game against Vale superbly and in the first half an hour could have been five goals up. There were great chances for Zach, Chris, Ash, Marlon and Kyle, but all were either high and wide or were met by some superb goalkeeping by the Vale keeper. It could have been worse as Vale’s only breakaway saw some slack defending enable their striker to go one on one with Brad but he spread himself well and made a good stop.

The breakthrough eventually came when a Vale defender and the keeper made a mess of a clearance, Chris Trippier made a superb interception, raced past the last defender before coolly slotting the ball past the onrushing keeper. 1-0 Heys.

Kyle then went through and should have made it two but tried to beat the keeper too many times and the ball was cleared. The rest of the half followed the same pattern with Heys on the front foot and Vale restricted to rare breakaways. The keeper made a couple of outstanding saves the best one was when he launched himself to get to a half volley from George and managed to tip it round the post. Half time came with the score still at 1-0.

As good as Heys were in the first half they were as bad in the second. Vale had an early corner which caused panic in the Heys defence but they just managed to clear the ball.

Heys then had a great chance to go 2 up, as Adam put in a great cross that found Zach near the penalty spot, he hammered in a great volley that looked a goal all the way but the keeper somehow got a foot to the ball and diverted it over the bar. On 55 minutes Chris Trippier was replaced by Studdy.

On 60 minutes Vale had a throw in halfway inside the Heys half, the Vale number 11 managed to turn Josh far too easily and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. 1-1

Vale were now on top and Heys were being restricted to breakaways, mainly down to the fact the lads stopped playing and their work rate was vastly inferior to Vale’s, although on one of the breakways they should have gone ahead, good passing between Zach and Kyle put Studdy in the clear, but the finish was one of a striker low on confidence and the ball trickled wide.

A long ball from the Vale keeper sailed over the Heys defence and put the number 10 through, but his lob was weak and Brad collected. Vale continued to press and were finding loads of space as the Heys players lost their shape and stopped closing down, a cross into the box was headed just over the Heys bar.

Kyle Greaves came off to be replaced by Jamie Sanders who was making his Heys debut. Two minutes later Heys had Brad to thank as he pulled off a superb double save. It then looked as if Vale would go ahead as a great cross in was met by the number 10, he rose unchallenged and sent a header in that luckily hit the bar and went over. In the final minute Jamie broke through and hit a great low shot but again the Vale keeper was equal to it. The game finished 1-1 and went into extra time.

Vale hit the first shot in that went wide and then a great moment for debut boy Jamie, as he found himself in the clear and a clinical finish made it 2-1 Heys.

Zach then had a shot saved by the Vale keeper, before Vale broke upfield where Brad made a good save but the number 10 pounced on the rebound and hammered it home. 2-2

Studdy then had a great chance to win the tie as Joe put in a great cross but. despite only being a couple of yards out, he headed weakly at the keeper who smothered the ball.

The game ended 2-2 and went to a penalty shoot out. It was obvious after the afternoon the Vale keeper had already had that it would take something special to beat him. Three times Heys tried with Grant, George and Zach all failing to beat him and although Brad save the first Vale penalty they went on to score the next three and take the semi final spot.

If the people on the forum who are calling for some Reserve players to be pushed into the first team had watched the last two games they would see that they really are not ready yet. Too many times they switch off and let their work rate drop off and they get punished. On the other hand they are probably the most skilful team in the league and certainly play some of the best football, experiences like Saturday can only help in the long run and by the faces in the dressing afterwards they will not want to let this happen again.