Heys hit six to sink Padiham

FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round Replay

On a rain lashed night at Adie Moran Park, Heys booked a place in the 1st round proper of the FA Vase with a stunning win over Padiham.
In a breath taking and richly entertaining game of football, both sides created a host of chances, such that the final score in many ways failed to reflect the game.

Both teams could have easily have scored far more and the outcome in no way reflected the contribution of Padiham who could well have sewn the game up in the opening quarter.

That they didn’t was down to the woodwork and the brilliance of Calum Jakovlevs who pulled off four outstanding saves to help repel an early onslaught by the Lancashire side. That the Heys keeper was arguably a contender for Man of the Match, in a game in which the winning margin was ultimately emphatic says much about the nature of this game.

Heys had created the first opening of the game in the 5th minute when a Lee Grimshaw shot forced Padiham keeper Nosakhare Aghayere into a sharp low save.

However, it was the visitors who took the game by the scruff of the neck. In one single passage of play they might have taken the lead on three occasions. First, a shot by Hulme hit the foot of the post and then as Heys struggled to gain possession Jakovlevs saved twice, one to his left the other to his right, to keep out further shots from Millenic Alli and Liam O’Neill.

The Heys stopper then produced two more remarkable saves to keep out headers from Lee Knight, leaving the Padiham striker clutching his head in disbelief and all of this by the 11th minute of the game.

It was soon to be the turn of Aghayere to excel as Heys found their feet and threatened themselves, the Padiham keeper did a great job in parrying a Danny Warburton shot but his side were grateful for a super last-ditch block by Haydock to block Grimshaw on the follow up.

The Heys striker was not to be denied for long as in the 19th minute the hosts took the lead. Warburton linked with Lee Bruce down the right and when the latter crossed, Grimshaw nipped in ahead of everyone to steer home.

Heys might have added to their lead five minutes later when Bruce fired wide after a great run and cross by Jake Wood.

Padiham looked to respond and enjoyed the greater possession for a spell but their earlier threat was not as apparent.

It was Heys who fashioned the next chance when Brad Sixsmith fired wide after a great run by Rio Wilson-Heyes.

However, the half was to end as it had largely begun with Jakovlevs denying Hulme at close range to ensure a frantic forty-five minutes ended remarkably with only one goal having been scored.

All that was to change in the second half as Heys took charge. By the hour Heys were three goals to the good.

After a quiet start to the season, Wilson-Heyes has shown increasing signs of a return to his best form. Having gone close with a shot moments previously, he increased Heys lead in the 53rd minute with a superb solo goal. Collecting the ball in midfield he set up on a run through the heart of the Padiham defence before rounding the keeper and slotting home his first goal of the season.

Playing with confidence, Heys added a third goal seven minutes later. Confusion reigned in the Padiham penalty area and when Aghayere failed to collect, Grimshaw seized possession, turned swiftly and guided the ball home.

The visitors responded, and their endeavour was rewarded in the 73rd minute when they reduced the arrears, when from a corner Jack Tinning rose to head home.

Hopes of a comeback were stifled however within three minutes as Wilson-Heyes tormented the Padiham rear guard again before finding Chris Baguley who had time to steady himself before drilling a shot past Aghayere.

Heys work though was still not done. In the 82nd minute Padiham pulled a goal back. Jakovlevs, blotted his copy book with an unnecessary challenge in the box giving Liam O’Neill the opportunity to score from the penalty spot.

Given the nature of the game, an air of nervousness still prevailed but in the 85th minute any hopes of a comeback were truly dispelled. Michael Itela’s persistence was rewarded as he refused to give up on a ball that appeared to be going out of play, to retrieve possession and then drill a low shot across the keeper into the far corner.

Chris Baguley was denied a second goal by Aghayere before in added time, when after good work by Itela, Theo Kidd marked his return to action as he slotted home Heys sixth and put the gloss on a victory that sets up a home tie with Garforth Town on 13th October.

Team: Calum Jakovlevs, Jacob Holt, Carl Fitton, Brad Sixsmith, Jake Wood (capt) , Mark Ayres, Danny Warburton, Jamie Baguley, Lee Grimshaw, Lee Bruce, Rio Wilson-Heyes Subs: Mike Itela (for Jamie Baguley 75 mins), Chris Baguley (for Sixsmith 62 mins), Theo Kidd (for Grimshaw 64mins), Michael Smith