Heys win at Holker in FA Vase

Report by Scott White

HOLKER OLD BOYS 0-2 PRESTWICH HEYS
SATURDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2018
FA VASE FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING

Prestwich Heys ended a three-match losing run with an efficient 2-0 win at Holker Old Boys in the FA Vase, a goal in either half, earning a trip to Padiham in the next round in two weeks time.

Playing up the Rakesmoor slope in the first half, Heys enjoyed the better of the possession and territory throughout, earning their first corner in the second minute when Rio Wilson-Heyes and Darius Photiou combined well on the right.

The home side’s first of few clear chances came on five minutes when a corner was headed wide at the far post.

Chris Baguley carved open a great chance with a dangerous cross, but no-one was on hand to convert, and minutes later, he fired in a fine corner, but Dom Slaven directed his header wide.

This was to be Baguley’s last contribution as he pulled up injured shortly afterwards, Lee Grimshaw replacing him.

On twelve minutes, Jacob Holt played an incisive ball through for Jordan Icely, but Sam Stephens in the home goal was alert enough to close the Heys man down and hold his chipped effort.

The lead eventually came on eighteen minutes, Man of the Match, Jamie Baguley driving in a dangerous free-kick from near to the right touchline, the home defence hesitated and Jacob Wood got the vital touch.

Holker threatened briefly when Heys were dispossessed on the edge of the box, but Callum Jakovlevs collected the weak shot.

Heys next threatened when an Icely corner beat the home defence, but was marginally too high for Wood to direct his header on target.

Carl Fitton was booked for a mistimed tackle on twenty-eight minutes before Heys had a gilt-edged chance to double their advantage.

Lee Grimshaw made a tricky run into the Holker penalty area, where he was upended and the referee pointed to the spot, but Stephens dived to his left to gather from Rio Wilson-Heyes.

So Heys led by a single goal at the break, but had been in the driving seat throughout, with Holt and Wood at the heart of the Heys defence dominating the home attack.

The second half started brightly for Heys, Wilson-Heyes skipping into space to put in two crosses begging to be converted, and within a minute, a high ball forward found Grimshaw and Bruce, but they conspired to get in each other’s way and the ball drifted to safety.

Just after the hour, Holker made loud claims for a penalty, but the referee waved these away as the game became a little tetchy.

Two great opportunities came Heys way, firstly, Wilson-Heyes slid a fine ball through for Grimshaw, but he had made his run an instant too early and the flag went up, and next, Jamie Baguley, Slaven and Bruce combined superbly, but again, Stephens was quickly out to collect.

Holker’s Nathan Reid then squandered Holker’s best chance as he burst clean through before curling his effort wide.

To compound the miss for the home side, Heys then doubled their lead when Carl Fitton hit a long ball upfield, which caught the Holker defence off-guard, and Grimshaw nipped in to control and finish confidently.

Heys made two more changes, David Bondo replacing Jamie Baguley to make his debut for the Club, and Lewis Adams coming on for Jacob Holt.

The last notable action came five minutes from time, Wood again showing how dangerous he can be in front of goal, getting his head onto a cross, his header spinning narrowly wide.

Despite losing key players to work commitments, holidays and injury, this was a confident performance from Heys, they dominated the game from the off and the team bonded well to carve out a comfortable win.

Heys Line-up: 1. Callum Jakovlevs, 2. Darius Photiou 3. Carl Fitton 4. Dom Slaven 5. Jacob Holt 6. Jacob Wood 7. Jordan Icely 8. Jamie Baguley 9. Lee Bruce 10. Chris Baguley 11. Rio Wilson-Heyes. Subs: 12. David Bondo (for 8) 14. Lewis Adams (for 5) 15. Lee Grimshaw (for 10).