Heys back on top after Hindsford win

Prestwich Heys bounced back to winning ways and returned to the top of the Manchester League Premier Division table with a 6-3 victory over 3rd placed Hindsford this afternoon.

With Royton suffering a shock 3-1 home defeat to Atherton Town the victory enabled Jon Lyons’ men to regain pole position on goal difference but with three games in hand.

In driving rain Heys produced a patchy performance. At times they were imperious but there were spells in the game when they were ragged, not least in the second half when a 4-1 lead was reduced to a single goal in the space of five minutes with only a glaring miss then preventing a Hindsford leveller.

Ultimately though Heys were deserved winners of a game switched to Wright Robinson College to beat the weather.

There was almost a dramatic opening to the game, one that could have seen the visitors reduced to ten men in only the 6th minute.
Dalton McLaughlin seized on a stray pass to bear down on goal but was upended by keeper Matthew Ince on the edge of the area. There were a couple of defenders close by but it was doubtful they would have been able to cover and Ince was fortunate to escape with a yellow card.

On top and playing some good football Heys took the lead in the 26th minute. The ball was fed into the penalty box to Jamie Baguley, with his back to goal, but the striker held off his marker before turning to shoot low past Ince.

Hindsford were feeding on scraps of possession with the direction of play predominantly towards their goal and in the 36th minute Heys increased their lead. Lee Bruce released Erike Sousa down the right and the winger burst into the penalty area before drilling a low shot across Ince into the far corner.

However, within a minute Heys undid their hard work somewhat as Hindsford swept forward and when the ball was moved into the penalty area Jack Valentine swept the ball home to put the game back in the balance at the interval.

On the restart, Heys were quick out of the blocks restoring their two goal cushion within a minute. A corner on the right from George Powell was swept to the far post where John Blackley and Shaun Johnson almost got in each other’s way before the latter chested the ball over the line.

Heys continued to play some good football and came close to increasing their lead when McLaughlin saw his shot from the edge of the area parried by Ince with Bruce unable to guide home the rebound.

Hindsford themselves were posing an increased threat but in the 71st minute Heys scored again. McLaughlin broke from just inside the visitor’s half and keeping pursuers at bay drew the keeper and slotted home a goal that should have sown the game up.

Remarkably though, as in the 1st half, Heys switched off and from the restart Hindsford pulled a goal back as an unmarked Valentine slotted home his second from close range.

Suddenly, Heys were all over the place and in the 76th minute Hindsford scored again as Luke Sylvester seized on a loose ball to drill a shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner.

The come back should have been complete two minutes later when with Heys all at sea and with the goal open, the Hindsford striker screwed his shot wide.

Had it hit the net Hindsford may well have gone onto win but the miss gave Heys time to regroup and in the 86th minute they gave themselves a cushion. McLaughlin teased the defence before delivering a superb reverse pass for Mark Baguley to emphatically plant the ball in the bottom corner.

The best was still yet to come.

In the 90th minute the drenched spectators were treated to one of the great individual goals. The sort that would have adorned our screens repeatedly had this game been on television. McLaughlin collected the ball on halfway, advanced goal wards, beating three defenders and then from 25 yards delivered a sublime chip that cleared the 6ft plus Ince and dipped under the bar into the net.

The perfect end to an ultimately satisfying afternoon.