The hardy souls who braved the rain at Eccles College were treated to some superb football as Jon Lyons’ side maintained their position at the top of the table over Royton to whom they travel for a crunch clash next Saturday.

The outlook looked bleak early on, certainly no one would have predicted the final outcome, as Gregs started at a rip roaring pace to pen Heys back.

Inside the opening minute Rob Sadler was called into action as he scurried across his goal to palm away a Tom Ward shot.

Marcus Adiqun then saw a shot deflected wide as Heys struggled to gain any possession. From the ensuing corner the early onslaught paid dividends for Gregs when Matt Dodwell rose to head home and give his side a 7th minute lead.

Heys dug in and showed signs of steadying the ship and in the 13th minute they levelled as Jamie Baguley headed home from a Max White corner.

In a fast paced game, Heys passing and movement began to wear Gregs down. A last ditch tackle thwarted Baguley as he bore down on goal and it then took a great fingertip save by Dan Wolstenholme to keep out a rasping Paul Tierney shot.

Firmly in the ascendancy Heys took command of the game with two goals in as many minutes just before half time

In the 43rd minute, from a free kick some 25 yard out, Max White unleashed a stunning, curling free kick that beat Wolstensholme all ends up inside his near post.

The lead was increased on the stroke of half time when from a Paul Tierney corner, Lee Bruce headed powerfully home.

The game was soon put to bed after half time as Heys scored two goals within five minutes of the restart, making it four in seven minutes all told.

A great ball by White to Dalton McLaughlin saw the latters cross cause all kinds of confusion in the Gregs defence with the ball turned into the net by a defender.

Then Bruce broke down the right, cut inside and teed up Tierney to finish from close range

Heys had the ball in the net again in the 52nd minute but it was ruled out for offside.

The tidal wave continued towards Gregs goal. Wes Bancroft was denied by Wolstensholme and saw a shot deflected wide. McLaughlin saw a long range effort whistle pass the post and then a close range Tierney header was scrambled off the line.

An emphatic win was rounded off five minutes from time when great interplay between White and McLaughlin saw the latters sublime pass release Bancroft, who this time was not to be denied, as he drew the ‘keeper and slotted home.