Ten days had elapsed since Heys last fixture but this was still fresh in the memory after the manner of the disappointing league defeat at home to Daisy Hill.

So, fans travelled to this Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy quarter final against Northern Premier League Division 1 side Colne FC more in hope than expectation with their side the underdogs in this one.

After a 15-minute delay to the kick off the teams took to the pitch on a cold, misty Tuesday night and the first noticeable thing was a change in formation as the teams lined up, Heys were to start with a refreshing 3-5-2 formation

Heys started brightly especially Jamie Sinnott, who was playing in a new role as right wing back and who was getting some early joy pressing forward whilst on his first start for Heys, Francesco Frangillo looked lively in the box.

Heys first chance was a shot from Rio Wilson Heyes on 11 minutes whose 18-yard shot from the left flew just wide of the right-hand post.

It was clear to see though that Colne would be a tough test and playing at a fantastic pace they took the lead on 17 minutes with the simplest of goals. A corner from the left found the head of Hazeldine unmarked 8 yards out and it and into the bottom right past Heys Keeper Russ Saunders.

The away side were unperturbed by this and kept pressing and had a shout for a penalty turned down by the referee on 21 minutes for a handball on the edge of the box.

Back came Colne on 23 minutes when a lovely ball over from the left resulted in a header with Saunders saving from close range.

The signs, at this point, were that this game was turning into a cracker 100 mph pace and end to end.

So, with Heys putting the maximum into this first half the equaliser came on 25 minutes and a quality goal it was. Sinnott who was winning almost every challenge down the flank intercepted the ball and floated it over to the left finding Francesco Frangillo who ran 18-yards down the left, cut inside and made no mistake, shooting bottom right for his first goal for the club.

Both teams were battling for the upper hand now with Dom Slaven showing his class in the middle of the park and more joy was too come just before half time. A quick thinking free kick by Max White found Mark Ayres, who put a dangerous cross right across the goal line and a scramble ensued in which Jacob Holt got in front of the defender and stabbed the ball home for 2-1 to the visitors and no more than they deserved in this excellent cup tie.

So, after a half time Bovril on this cold night the teams fought a close first opening 15 minutes of the second half with Rio Wilson-Heyes having a shot saved by the keeper from 20 yards.

In the 62nd minute though came the game changing moment when Colne fired in a fierce shot from 18 yards which was brilliantly saved by Saunders.

From here on in Heys raised the bar and when Jordan Pendlebury was brought down in the box Max White hammered home the penalty, bottom left, for 3-1 to the visitors.

Colne were not done though pulling one back on 69 minutes with a looping header into the left corner of Saunders goal, Coveney the scorer. It could have been a nervy last 20 minutes against higher league opposition but don't you believe it.

Heys were now in full flow pressing forward and now with substitute Zack Dale on for Frangillo to freshen up the forward line. However, despite this great spell of play it was a big error at the back, 20 yards out, with confusion between the Colne keeper and the centre half enabling Wilson Heyes to nip between them and slot the ball home from 18 yards sending the travelling Heys fans into dreamland on 85 minutes.

Heys never looked back and with Colne pushing forward Dale got the ball on the right in the dying moments ran down the wing and crossed the ball for Wilson-Heyes, at his unplayable best in this one, at the far post to tap in for an amazing 5-2 at full time.

Managers John Lyons and Matt Barnes will be pleased with how this refreshing 3-5-2 change in formation made a difference but it was also very much about the massive response from the players who worked tirelessly throughout after two disappointing league defeats and confidence was looking low.