Chris Baguley fired a hat-trick as Heys cruised into the last sixteen of the Macron Cup with a comfortable victory over Cleator Moor Celtic at Adie Moran Park.

The Heys Player-Coach scored with two superb finishes, either side of a successful penalty, to score his side’s first three goals. Lee Bruce and Max White then got on the score sheet as the Cumbrian side were put to the sword in this second round tie of the Hallmark Security League’s main cup competition.

The manner of victory would have pleased Heys managers Jon Lyons and Ryan Hutchinson, particularly the second half showing where their team produced some slick passing football that bordered on the sublime.

The hosts were quick out of the traps as they forced two corners in the opening minute before Michael Itela got in behind the visitors’ defence only to see his angled shot go wide of the far post.

With the direction of play towards the Celtic goal, Heys control was rewarded in the 12th minute with a super opening strike.
Max White showed great skill out wide, cheekily nutmegging the visitors full back before rolling the ball across goal, where Bruce stepped over the ball to allow the advancing Chris Baguley to come in and slot low into the bottom corner.

Baguley was at the hub of everything and very nearly delivered a spectacular second goal in the 20th minute when he tried a shot from half way which had the Cleator Moor keeper Craig Rule scurrying to gather.

Max White then sent a free kick wide as Heys continued to press with almost alarming ease. Indeed, they were guilty of taking their foot of the gas and in the 27th minute Celtic almost levelled when a cross into the box picked out Brad Tatton who flashed a header over.

A great save by Michael Smith six minutes later kept Heys in front as the keeper, who was unsighted, dropped sharply to keep out a first time Tatton shot following a corner.

With the alarm bells ringing, Heys lifted the tempo. Chris Baguley burst through the middle to shoot over and then Hensley Mills got in behind the Celtic defence but lifted his shot over the advancing keeper and the bar.

In the 38th minute Heys increased their lead. Full back Darius Photiou burst down the flank and as he cut into the box he was unceremoniously upended by Rule, giving the referee an easy decision in awarding a penalty.

From the spot kick Chris Baguley duly despatched to put Heys in the driving seat heading into the interval.
Celtic showed their intentions not to go down without a fight on the restart forcing an early corner and then Craig Dunn fired a sharp shot just over.

However, their hopes of a comeback were well and truly put to bed in the 48th minute as Chris Baguley completed his hat-trick. After a patient build up, the Heys midfielder collected the ball just out side the box before working some space for himself to curl a deft shot, low into the far corner.

Moments later he was replaced by Justin Pickering. The latter himself soon came near to getting on the score sheet as his rasping goal bound shot appeared to strike an arm before diverting to safety, but the referee turned down Heys penalty appeals.

Mills was denied by a great save, low down by Rule and Pickering fired just over as Heys looked to ram home their superiority and they added a fourth goal in the 70th minute.

Some superb passing and movement culminated in Max White breaking into the box and as his low angled shot was tipped onto the post by Rule, Bruce following up scooped the ball into the roof of the net.

Five minutes later, White did get rewarded for his endeavours. The build up again was impressive with Jamie Baguley and Mills exchanging passes before playing in White to steer a deft shot into the far corner.

Pickering and Itela went close to adding to Heys tally as they eased to a win that sends them to Nelson in the 3rd round on December 8th.

Team: Michael Smith, Darius Photiou, Carl Fitton, Max White, Mark Ayres, Jake Wood (Capt), Michael Itela, Dominic Butler, Lee Bruce, Chris Baguley, Hensley Mills Subs; Jacob Holt (for Ayres 62 mins), Jamie Baguley (for Bruce 73 mins), Justin Pickering (for Chris Baguley 57 mins), Danny Warburton, Rio Wilson-Heyes