Heys lost top spot in the Manchester League Premier Division for the first time this season as they were soundly beaten by new leaders Royton Town today.

Only goal difference separated the teams at kick off but Royton now hold a three-point advantage after this comprehensive victory although Heys still have three games in hand.

However, Jon Lyons’s team will have to improve on this display in the weeks ahead if they are to utilize those games. They were second best throughout much of the first half and although they improved after the break they still lacked the energy, tenacity and clinical forward play of an impressive host side who have now won eight league games on the bounce.

Heys started brightly enough in a fiery opening which saw Jamie Baguley taken out in an off the ball incident and then Royton’s Wayne Dean booked for heavy tackle on Dalton McLaughlin.

John Blackley came close to giving Heys the lead in the 8th minute but his header from a Paul Tierney corner flashed over the bar.

However, as Royton warmed to their task they began to force Heys back and it took a fine double save by Rob Sadler in the 27th minute to keep them out as he pushed away a Paul Ashton shot before recovering quickly to keep out Joe Jacombes follow up.

It was the prelude for a sustained spell from the home side with Heys having to pull out all the stops with a series of last ditch blocks preventing shots at goal.

In the 33rd minute though they cracked. A cross into the box was headed clear by Shaun Johnson but fell to Alan Beckitt some 20 yards out who let fly with a rasping shot just inside the post.

Royton were totally dominant at this point with Heys barely able to get out of their own half. An Ashton shot clipped the top of the bar and Sadler saved low from Beckitt.

Any attempts by Heys to move forward were nipped in the bud by a home side who swarmed over them, closing space. Sharp into the tackle and quick into attack, Heys had no answer.

In the 41st minute Royton doubled their lead, a ball into the box was seized upon by Danny Gilmartin who turned quickly to fire a shot into the far corner.

Half time gave Heys time to regroup and there was a noticeable upping of the tempo on the restart as they began to find their passing rhythm but they were left facing an uphill task in the 55th minute as with their first notable attack of the half Royton added a third. A ball into the box was not dealt with and Gilmartin reacted to fire a low shot past Sadler.

Heys responded with a Jamie Baguley header flashing wide from a corner before on the hour their best chance saw Erike Sousa break clear before pulling his shot wide.

Although Heys were enjoying plenty of possession the greater threat still came from Royton and Sadler was in action again in the 73rd minute saving with his legs from Ashton.

Five minutes later any glimmer of hope was extinguished. Some neat play inside the box opened Heys up and Carl Caffrey fired a shot into the far corner.

Heys plugged away and reduced the arrears in the 85th minute when low driven free kick from Max White squirmed under Marc Howard into the home net.

It was mere consolation for Heys. Thus far they have had things largely their own way this season and one bad afternoon does not suddenly make them a bad team but after this heavy defeat they have to recover quickly and find more in their locker if they are to fend off this impressive Royton outfit.