Jon Lyons and Ryan Hutchinson’s side were last week named the Division One North team of the month for September at the end a period that saw them go six games unbeaten and progress in the FA Vase.

However, October has brought two defeats and this match was a mirror on Heys season so far. Injuries have been a theme throughout this campaign and this game was no exception, Jamie and Chris Baguley, Dom Slaven, Danny White and Lee Bruce, all influential players were missing here.

That does not mask this defeat or others in this stop start season. This game again saw Heys produce spells of attractive football but through either ill luck or poor execution they failed to make it count, a far cry from a team that plundered 151 goals last season.

It was another game in which Heys again blew hot and cold. For the good spells they had there were equally periods when their play lacked intensity and conviction as, not for the first time, they leaked goals. It’s a conundrum that must be resolved if a season that started with such high hopes isn’t to falter into one spent treading water.

Having won the trophy back in May with a dramatic injury time winner over Cammell Laird, Heys were quick out of the traps here and they made the ideal start going ahead in the 9th minute. A ball down the channels exposed the Barnton defence and Justin Pickering showed great composure to draw the ‘keeper and steer the ball home from an acute angle.

The joy was to be short lived as within three-minute Barnton were level. Not being able to hold a lead as been another feature of the season and here the pace of Luke Wilson-Jones opened Heys up and his finish into the far corner, past Calum Jakovlevs, was clinical.

Indeed, the pace of the visitors front three was a constant threat and played a part in their taking the lead in the 15th minute. Darius Photiou is not often beaten for speed, but here he was caught in possession by Ryan Wan and when the ball was worked to Samuel Houghton, his shot, with the aid of a deflection, ended up in the bottom corner.

Theodore Kidd tested Barnton keeper Aaron Lyons with a shot shortly after and Pickering landed a free kick on the top of the net as Heys looked for a way back but much of their pay was laboured.

They were to pay the price in the 34th minute as Barnton increased their lead. Heys had three chances in the middle of the park to gain possession but were beaten to the challenge on each occasion. When Wilson–Jones then drove in a deep cross, Ryan Malone nipped in behind everyone to steer home at the far post.

Only a block on the line by Danny Warburton prevented Lee Guirado adding a fourth before the interval as Heys malaise continued.

After the break though, out came the Heys we have been accustomed to. Quick passing and movement suddenly making a hitherto largely untroubled Barnton defence look decidedly shaky.

Lyons struggled to hold a Pickering shot and was grateful for his defence to clear the danger before Kidd almost stole in, only to see his downwards header bounce up over the bar.

Heys continued to pepper the visitors defence but their luck was out as Jacob Holt saw a header come off the bar before Lyons saved superbly from Jordan Icely’s follow up shot.

With the Cheshire sides defence arguing with each other a goal would surely have turned the match at this point but Heys could not capitalise and in the 74th minute Barnton broke to all but end the contest.

Wilson-Jones broke into box and although Jakovlevs got a hand to his chip shot, the ball fell kindly to Guirado to tap into the empty net.

Icely went close with a shot and Lyons pulled off a smart save after a good run by Rio Wilson-Heyes but the stark contrast between the sides was ruthlessly rammed home with two further goals for Barnton in injury time.

Firstly, Heys failed to deal with a bouncing ball in their box and whilst Jake Wood and Mark Ayres struggled to react Guirado volleyed home from 12 yards.

A minute later it was six as Malone ghosted through the remnants of the home defence to tuck the ball into the bottom corner and complete a sobering defeat for Heys.

Team: Calum Jakovlevs, Darius Photiou, Carl Fitton, Max White, Mark Ayres, Jacob Wood (Capt), Danny Warburton, Jacob Holt, Theodore Kidd, Justin Pickering, Jordan Icely Subs: Danny Vincent, Michael Itela, Lee Grimshaw (Kidd 63 mins), Michael Smith, Rio Wilson-Heyes (for Fitton 63 mins)