Heys move off the bottom

Ben Lever struck twice as Heys picked up three precious points from a thrilling victory at fellow strugglers Heywood St. James on Tuesday night.

The Heys striker scored a first half equaliser and then scored a superb winner four minutes from time, as his side came from behind to claim a vital win that lifted them off the foot of the table for the first time since 21st October last year.

Jon Lyons’ side knew that a defeat would leave them all but relegated and knowing the importance of victory they made a lively start to pen their hosts back. Grant Mody had two chances, first missing his header from a corner then lifting a shot over as the ball bobbled around in the box from a half cleared free-kick.

However, on 17 minutes Heys found themselves behind in controversial circumstances. Heywood’s livewire Chris Nuttall got in behind the Heys defence but in a race for the ball it appeared that keeper Damien Rooney had managed to punch the ball to safety as the players collided. The referee saw it differently though and pointed to the penalty spot from which Mike Weatherilt slotted home.

The game then became something of a battle as each side thought for supremacy with some sharp tackles flying in on both sides.

However, on the stroke of half time, Heys grabbed an equaliser. Grant Mody played a long ball forward that cut out the home defence allowing Lever to bear down on goal and finish with a deft flick past Chris Booth.

If the first half had been low on quality the second half proved a nerve jangling game of end of end to football as each side went for the jugular.

Within a minute of the restart Rooney pulled off a fine fingertip save to deny Weatherilt before Jon Lyons saw a shot parried by Booth at the other end.

However, it was the home side that were looking more threatening, particularly when they found Nuttall and he twice went close, first rounding Rooney but shooting over from an angle and then forcing the Heys keeper into a fine near post save.

The battle between the two was finally won by Nuttall on the hour. Finding space on the Heys left he bore down on goal and lifted his shot over the oncoming Rooney and into the net.

The goal prompted a furious response from Heys with George Powell first seeing a shot blocked by Booth and then teeing up Paul Tierney who, after seeing his shot cleared off the line, then saw the rebound hit the post and fall back into Booth’s hands.

Back at the other end Nuttall again tormented Heys, this time forcing Rooney to block at close range.

However the general flow of the game seemed to be turning Heys way and in the 76th minute they were level again. After a corner was only half cleared Lever swung the ball back into the box for Mike Ayres to send a header crashing in to the net.

It was now all Heys as they sought victory with Tierney seeing a shot saved amidst a flurry of corners before in the 86th minute they clinched the points in breath taking fashion.

Ayres launched a long throw in to the box which was met by Tierney and his backwards header found Lever who with his back to goal found the net with a superb overhead kick.

Heys had to defend desperately in the closing moments before celebrating a win that leaves them a point off safety. However, they are still reliant on other sides dropping points and will watch with interest as all their rivals play at least once before they return to action at home to Stockport Georgians on April 21st.