Jon Lyons new look side turned on the style, with some super football, to record an impressive Opening Day success over last years’ third placed finishers and Gilgryst Cup Winners with goals from Paul Tierney, Jamie Baguley and Max White.

It was only in the last quarter for the game that AVRO seriously threatened Heys making for a nervous finish after a super strike by Rico Stewart reduced the arrears.

This was billed as the League’s Match of the Day and it opened at a lively pace with Heys quickly in to their stride.

Some fine football presented White with an opening in the 4th minute but his shot from the edge of the area went over the bar.

However, the early pressure told in the 8th minute when a great pass by Baguley released Tierney into the box and although AVRO ‘keeper Peter Collinge blocked his first attempt the Heys man was quick to react to turn the ball into the unguarded net.

AVRO made an immediate response and it took a good save low down to his right from Rob Sadler to keep out a Mike Stockdale shot.

Although both sides pressed and probed it was Heys who continued to look the more dangerous with the hosts at full stretch to keep them at bay.

White flashed a shot across the face of goal in the 35th minute as Heys began to open up the home defence with increasing regularity.
George Powell burst down the wing moments later and when he centred Bruce’s stooping header was superbly blocked by Collinge.

However, two minutes later the second goal came as super passing move culminated in White playing Baguley and the Heys striker was clinical in his finish as he slid the ball under Collinge.

Moments later it could have been three as the home defence was again prised open and Lyons beat Collinge to the ball, but in the act of doing so lost his footing and was unable to divert the ball into the empty net.

Heys control was maintained at the start of the second half as White was thwarted at close range by Collinge but he was not be denied in the 55th minute.

Bruce sprang the offside trap and as he cut into the box he squared for White to come in and steer home Heys third.

The introduction of Stewart for AVRO pepped the home side and for the first time in the afternoon they began to exert some pressure on the Heys backline.

In the 70th minute, the hosts grabbed a lifeline when Stewart opened up his body to curl a super shot into the top corner of the net.

It made for a difficult final quarter of the game as the home side pressed and probed. A great save by Sadler at point blank range kept out a Stockdale header that could have made things tighter.

White had the chance in the closing moments to settle matters once and for all but his shot was pushed to safety by Collinge.

However, Heys by then were home and dry and could take great satisfaction from a thoroughly deserved win.