In a pulsating game, switched to the 4g surface at the AJ Bell Stadium, Heys let slip a two goal lead as AFC Monton staged a stirring second half comeback to gain a deserved victory.

Heys dominated the opening quarter of the game with some fantastic football and were full value for their interval lead given to them by goals from Paul Tierney and Jamie Baguley.

However, as good as they were in the first half they were equally as disappointing in the second as Monton roared back with some impressive football to hit Heys with three goals in the last eighteen minutes.

On a bitterly cold afternoon, Heys were soon into their stride with some slick passing causing Monton problems and it took a stunning fingertip save by their ‘keeper Phillip Pole to keep out a Max White free kick in the 10th minute.

Moments later though Heys were in front as Monton struggled to clear, John Blackley swung in a cross where Tierney out jumped Pole to loop a header into the net.

With Monton struggling to keep pace Heys were presented with a run of free kicks in promising situations and in the 20th minute they increased their lead. After Dalton McLaughlin had been upended, a free kick some 25 yards out saw Baguley step forward and rifle a shot into the top corner. (MAIN PICTURE)

If Heys thought they were on their way to another handsome victory, Monton soon showed they were having nothing of it as they climbed off the ropes and Rob Sadler clawed a Nathan Bond shot off the line before then dropping to save at the foot of the post to deny Lee Bancroft.

Tierney flicked a header wide and McLaughlin saw a shot blocked but Monton were now very much in the game, a momentum they carried into the second half as within moments of the restart Bond scooped a shot over.

It almost proved a costly miss as Heys broke down the other end and as Monton struggled to clear the ball ricocheted of Erike Sousa but trickled agonisingly wide of the goal.

It was to prove arguably a defining moment in the game had it gone in it would probably have been game over, instead Monton took a stranglehold on matters.

In increasingly heavy snow, they pushed Heys back and Sadler had to be alert to keep out efforts from Matty Campbell and Ben McNamara.

Arron Swift then shot over with the goal begging as Heys struggled to gain any meaningful possession.

Sadler then produced a superb fingertip save to keep out a free kick pushing it onto the post. However, from the corner Heys were finally undone in the 72nd minute when as they struggled to clear Swift swept home from close range to put the game back in the melting pot.

Sloppy in possession and increasingly ragged in defence, Heys were indebted to the cross bar to keep out a looping shot from Swift before Sadler then excelled with a world class double save, first keeping out a close range header then bouncing straight up to keep out the ensuing shot, again at close range.

Although White saw an effort blocked for Heys the momentum was all Monton’s and with six minutes left they levelled.

As Heys struggled to clear a corner kick Craig Buckley nipped into to force the ball home and set up a grandstand finish.

Heys rallied and Wes Bancroft saw a shot flash across the face of goal before Bond threatened at the other end.

As the game entered added time, McLaughlin almost won it for Heys but his low shot deflected agonisingly wide of the post.

From the ensuing corner Monton half cleared but Heys conceded possession leaving them exposed at the back and when the ball was swept into the box Lee Bancroft planted a shot into the far corner to win it with the very last kick.

Heys will have much to reflect on in training this week but as Manager Jon Lyons said afterwards “Although, disappointed in today's result and performance ending our 12 game unbeaten start to the league. I believe we will bounce back and become a stronger team. You don't turn into a bad team over night.”