Battling Heys triumph at Dukinfield

Heys took a big step towards securing Premier Division safety with a battling 2-0 win at Dukinfield Town on Tuesday night.

Two goals in four first half minutes from Shaun Johnson and Shane Birtles helped secure the points but this was a night when Heys showed their defensive capabilities as they rode out a second half onslaught from their hosts for whom this defeat spelt relegation.

In a huge game for both sides Heys were forced into a late pre match shuffle when Damien Rooney was delayed due to work and Ben Lever had to switch from scoring goals to saving them.

However, he was largely a spectator for the opening half hour as Heys pieced together some fine football to open up what was to prove an unassailable lead.

After Jon Lyons had gone close with a header, Heys took the lead on 19minutes. George Powell seized possession midway inside the hosts half and advanced forward before rolling the ball across the face of the area for Shaun Johnson to rifle a low shot into the bottom corner.

On 23 minutes Heys made it two. After being fouled on halfway Brad Lyons showed quick thinking with a swiftly taken free kick to set Birtles clear and he went on to slide the ball past the advancing ‘keeper.

With their Premier Division status slipping away the home side upped the ante and as the game became increasingly fractious Grant Mody had to be replaced by Liam May after a late challenge.

With Heys being forced onto the defensive only the post prevented Dukinfield reducing the arrears before the half time interval, which saw Heys forced into another change, with Gary Massey replacing Mark Fitton.

The second half saw the hosts pick up the pressure to pen Heys back but such was their resolve the first real chance of the half went to Paul Tierney who saw his shot smothered by the keeper in a lightning break out of defence.

Brad Lyons was the next to limp from the action to be replaced by Danny Morley as Heys were finding themselves forced further back to defend their lead. However, clear openings were hard to find for the home side and whilst the whole team dug deep special mention must be made of Joey Booth, Danny Johnson and George Powell who seemed to pop up everywhere with timely tackles and blocks.

Jon Lyons almost wrapped things up in the 82nd minute with a determined run before seeing his angled shot tipped onto the bar.

As it was Heys were left to face an anxious last few minutes but a measure of their resilience could be gauged by the fact it was the 86th minute before Lever had to make a real save and what a stop it was, at point blank range, when it seemed the home striker must score.

In a game that had simmered throughout frustration got the better of the home side in the last minute when their striker was dismissed for a head-butt on Danny Johnson.

It was another bump and bruise to add to the many gained during the ninety minutes on a night when Heys showed big hearts and tremendous team spirit to gain a massive three points.