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Weekend Preview: Heys look for league boost at Atherton

Weekend Preview: Heys look for league boost at Atherton

STEPHEN HOWARD16 Sep 2014 - 18:36
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Return to league action sees trip to Howe Bridge.

Heys return to league action on Saturday as they travel to newly promoted Atherton Town looking for three valuable points.

It's been a disappointing start to the campaign for Jon Lyons's side who sit fourth bottom with four points from four games, with their hosts one place above them, with the same points, but having scored one more goal.

The Heys boss will be hoping his side can produce some of the sparkling football they demonstrated, particularly in the second half, in the Lancashire Shield win against Hawcoat Park last Saturday.

With players returning and confidence boosted by that win, hopes will be high that the league campaign will now start to flourish. Certainly, even at this early stage Heys will not want to fall too many more points behind the early leaders.

Atherton finished second in Division One last season, being pipped to the title on goal difference by Chapel Town, their promotion ending a three year absence from the top flight. Thus far, they have lost away at Hindsford and Walshaw but are unbeaten in their first two home games beating Manchester Gregorians 2-1 and drawing 1-1 with Elton Vale. They too enjoyed Lancashire Shield success at the weekend with an emphatic 7-0 home win over Todmorden.

For Heys, Marvin Walters has completed his suspension and will come into contention as will Martin Love who completed a full 90 minutes for the Reserves last week as Jon Lyons' options increase on a weekly basis.

The last time the teams was met was on the 17th May 2011, the last match of the season. Atherton were already down and Heys had to win to stay up, something they did with a 3-2 success. Early days, it may be and both teams have greater aspirations, but come Saturday night neither side will want to find themselves in that drop zone again.

Kick off at Howe Bridge Sports Centre is 2pm.

Directions:

Eckersley Fold Lane, Atherton M46 0RG

Tel: 01942 884882

Directions: From Atherton follow A579 towards Leigh, The Sports Centre is approx. 800 metres on left hand side.

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