Prestwich Heys were unable to repeat their midweek heroics as they bowed out of the Macron Cup with this defeat to a strong AFC Liverpool at Adie Moran Park.

After the stunning Lancashire Trophy success at Colne in the Lancashire Trophy, hopes were high that Heys could make similar progress in the North West Counties League’s flagship competition. However, the Merseysiders were ultimately too strong for the home side as they chalked up their eleventh successive win.

The game was a hard fought, although sometimes dour affair and whilst there was no doubting Heys endeavour they were never able to really muster the momentum needed to overcome their impressive opponents.

The game set off at a cracking pace with both teams looking lively, but unable to find a real opening. Indeed, it was not until the 20th minute that a clear sighting of goal was created when Rio Wilson-Heyes showed some neat footwork to cut into the box before firing narrowly wide.

Wilson-Heyes in tandem with his strike partner Francesco Frangillo were looking threatening but in the 23rd minute it the visiting strikers who were to deliver the first blow of the afternoon.

A cross into the box dropped invitingly into a pocket of space for David Cockerline and his deft touch took the ball past Heys ‘keeper Russell Saunders. It looked like an attempted goal line clearance may save the day for Heys but the linesman’s flag ruled the ball had already crossed the line.

Heys response was good as they forced a flurry of corners, but they were unable to fashion a clear opening.

Indeed, it was the Merseysiders who were the more threatening and it took a smart save, low down by Saunders in the 34th minute to keep out a low drive from Anthony Lyons.

A lightning break from defence almost saw Liverpool increase their lead in the 41st minute. A sweeping move from defence to attack ended with Cockerline unable to apply the close-range finish as he lifted his first time shot over.

Heys ended the half in the ascendancy and following a couple of corners, AFC stopper Lee Carr had to drop to hold an Adrian Bellamy header.

The second started much the same way as the first with both teams looking to gain the ascendancy. It was not until the hour mark that a chance came and again it was from the visitors. A jinxing run from Rhys Hardacre took him into the box and when he crossed low Lyons was not quite able to connect.

The near miss prompted Heys into their best spell of pressure of the afternoon and they had the ball in the net in the 64th minute when Jake Wood delivered a curling header into the far corner from a Max White free kick but was adjudged offside.

Although enjoying more than their fair share of possession Heys were unbale to fashion a real opening and their biggest threat came from set pieces, with the Liverpool defence successfully defending successive corners.

However, it was a corner that was to prove Heys undoing as in the 71st minute Liverpool increased their lead. From a corner drilled in from the right, Lyons timed his run to perfection to glance a header into the far corner and leave the hosts with a mountain to climb.

Heys spirit remain undiminished. Max White went close with a free kick before in the 77th minute the visitor’s efforts to repel the home side saw them reduced to ten men. Kieron Sherlock, who started the season at Heys saw red, following a second caution, after hacking Logan Holroyd down.

Continuing to press, Heys looked to get back into the game, but as had been the case for much of the game, found openings hard to come by against a resolute Liverpool defence who saw the game out to advance into the last eight.

TEAM: Russell Saunders, Jamie Sinnott, Jacob Holt, Max White, Adrian Bellamy, Jacob Wood (Capt), Brad Sixsmith, Joe Rothwell, Francesco Frangillo, Rio Wilson-Heyes, Jordan Pendlebury, Subs: Danny Vincent (for White 85 mins), Danny White, Anthony Hall (for Frangillo 60 mins), Sean Cookson, Logan Holroyd (for Sinnott 76 mins)