With the title in the bag and two Cup Finals in the coming week, Heys were decidedly lacklustre in a game that played in warm sunshine had a distinct end of season feel to it.

And yet the point proved enough to extend their lead at the top of the table. History will show that Jon Lyons’ side won the League by 13 points, winning 23 of their 30 fixtures, scoring 91 goals and conceding just 29.

Their points total of 73 is the highest of any team in the Premier Division on a 30 game season and the biggest since Wigan Robin Park accumulated 74 from 36 games in 2008.

When Heys last won the League in 2007 they amassed 86 points from 36 games. By any measure it has been an exceptional season.
They started todays’ game in a way that suggested they may go out with a bang. In the first three minutes Jamie Baguley fired a 25 yard shot over and home ’keeper Kristian Whalley smothered a Mark Baguley close range effort.

However, Atherton, still not certain of avoiding the drop, emerged the stronger and sharper with Lewis Welsh and Sam Boydell both going close.

By and large though it was mundane stuff, both sides passing the ball about but with no real zest or end product.

A flurry of activity just prior to the interval raised hopes of better things to come. Jake Wood headed over from a corner for Heys before Danny Eyres lifted a shot over. In-between Heys ‘keeper Paul Hinchy got down well to push a Boydell free kick round the post.

The hosts started the second half in lively fashion with Nick Eastham firing just over but there was still little overall for the crowd to get excited about. Atherton enjoyed the best of the possession but Heys defence was largely in control.

There were brief interludes as Ash Reece threatened from a corner but fired over for Heys, before Hinchy pushed a Boydell shot round the post.

The Heys management team of Jon Lyons and Ian Hutchinson introduced themselves into the fray for the final quarter but save for a long range Mark Baguley shot that just cleared the bar the match meandered to a tame draw.