HEYS OFF THE MARK

An 86th minute Nathan Tossum equaliser earned Heys their first point of the season in this local derby against AFC Bury at Cams Lane.

Both sides went into the game seeking their first victory of the season and whilst they both still ended up winless it was Heys who could take the most comfort after a dominant second half display saw them cancel out Bury’s half-time advantage.

It was Heys who seized the early initiative with Tossum and Yves Xama both going close before the hosts took control.

As with Saturday’s defeat to Walshaw it was a couple of old boys who proved Heys tormentor’s with Sam Smith twice going close before Mark Westhead put Bury ahead in the 25th minute with a close range finish following a goalmouth scramble that included the post being hit and an effort blocked on the line.

However, in a chance laden game, Heys hit back with first Ant Wallace going close and then Xama being denied in a one on one with the ‘keeper.
Before the half was out the latter again went close and on the stroke of half time a goal mouth scramble ended with Danny Johnson being denied by a fine save.

It was an impetus Heys carried into the second half and they should have had a penalty when Xama’s jinxing run saw him upended but the referee turned down Heys appeals.

The decision almost proved to be a defining moment in the game as shortly after Heys keeper Lewis Bishop pulled off a fine one on one save to deny the home side.

However, by and large Heys had the game under their control and began to pen their hosts back with some nice football. Prompted by a real Captains display by Matty Morris, Heys, for arguably the first time this season, began to play the kind of football that marked last year’s amazing relegation escape and gave rise to so much optimism in pre-season.

Bury were becoming increasingly stretched and amidst a rising corner count Tossum shot agonisingly wide before being denied a penalty when his route to goal was held up by the sort of shirt pulling that merits a free-kick anywhere else on the pitch.

Finally, with only four minutes to go,Tossum found a way through when from just inside the area he let fly with a superb angled shot into the top corner for a richly deserved equaliser.

Heys continued to press but time was not on their side but they can take heart, particularly from their second half showing, into Saturday’s home game with East Manchester.

from Bury Times