Reserves celebrate title in style

Having been awarded the Championship Trophy prior to kick off Heys Reserves celebrated with a 5-2 win over Elton Vale at Adie Moran Park.

On a cold rain swept afternoon there was not much to warm the Heys faithful huddled under the new stand in the first half.

However, the second half produced all seven goals and plenty to talk about afterwards as the celebrations started in earnest.

The first half proved a mundane affair as if both sides were suffering a hangover after having played out a 2-2 draw with each other at Vale less than 48 hours previously.

It was not until the 21st minute that a chance of note was created when Liam Dunn headed wide from a Chris McKay cross. Mark Westhead fired wide shortly after and Rick Winstanley saw a shot pushed to safety after a jinxing run by McKay had opened up the Vale defence.

Vale probed but could find no gaps in the Heys rear guard as a tepid half drew to a goalless conclusion.

However, the second period brought about a remarkable transformation, sparked within a minute of the restart by an Abid Uddin goal.

In the 50th minute Heys increased their lead when Callum Lee capitalised on a goalkeeping error to score from close range.

However, has they have done in their two previous meetings this season, Vale refused to lie down and pulled one back shortly after with a smart header from a free kick by Jack Griffiths.

The response from Heys though was swift. McKay flashed a 25 yard shot inches wide before they restored their two goal cushion with a goal which underlined their status as Champions.

Some slick possession culminated in a cross to the far post which Joe Newton, showing great vision, met with a deft header back across goal that left the ball hanging in the air invitingly for Uddin to power home his header.

Still, Vale would buckle and they hit back within moments when a Perran Cooke beat Jack O’Brien low down.

The entertainment continued in the 75th minute when Heys grabbed a fourth. This time from an indirect free kick on the halfway line Mark Fitton launched the ball goal wards with some accuracy which the Vale ‘keeper could only help into the net when really he had no need to touch it.

This time there was to be no way back for Vale and in the 85th minute Heys wrapped things up. It was perhaps fitting that Steve Charles, whose goals have played such a high part in the team’s success should score it as his pace turned a half chance into a goal as he nipped in ahead of the Vale keeper, rounded him and rolled the ball into the net for his 27th strike of the season.

The win ensured Heys completed the season unbeaten at Adie Moran Park. The first of their last two fixtures is at East Manchester on Saturday, 2. 30pm.