Grimshaw double spurs Heys to victory

report by Scott White

Making two enforced changes, Heys controlled this game from the off with a great team performance in the magnificent setting of Cleator Moor Celtic, on the Cumbrian coast.

Heys first opening came via Rio Wilson-Heyes, who went on a jinxing run before shooting narrowly wide,

Celtic responded, a deep ball forward being well met on the volley at the near post, but the ball went high and wide.

Heys enjoyed a string of decent chances starting on the sixteenth minute, Wilson-Heyes and Photiou combining well with the former heading into the ground, then Warburton saw a powerful shot blocked before Slaven connected well with a loose ball, but his effort slid wide.

Slaven was enjoying a fine game in the captain’s armband and had Heys’ next effort in the 23rd minute, picking out a shot which was going in at the far post, before a home defender managed to head clear.

The breakthrough came on twenty-seven minutes, Max White curled a fine cross to the far post where Lee Bruce made a trademark headed finish.

Just after the half-hour, Mark Ayres went into the book for a crude challenge, but together with Danny Vincent, the centre-half duo was in fine form, restricting Cleator Moor to few clear chances.

The best chance for the home side in the first half came when a cross was headed over from the edge of the six-yard box.

The final chance of the first half saw Max White curl a free-kick towards the near post, but the Celtic keeper was over smartly to collect.

Wilson-Heyes had the first chance of the second half, a low shot being palmed away, but the home side enjoyed the better of the first fifteen minutes after the restart.

On fifty-one minutes, Celtic almost grabbed an equaliser when Heys were dispossessed in midfield, and the home side made a smart passing move to open up Heys’ right flank, before the final shot was wide.

Five minutes later, Tom Mahone blasted over for Cleator Moor as Heys crisp passing game stuttered.

On the hour, Heys had another great chance, a Fitton cross being just too high for Grimshaw to connect with, but within a minute, Heys had doubled their lead.

Lee Bruce forced a great opening for himself, but the ball was put out for a corner. Max White floated the dead ball into the box where Grimshaw connected perfectly into the top corner with his head.

Brad Sixsmith then made his Heys debut, replacing Rio Wilson-Heyes, before the visitors went three up, Bruce laid the ball in for Grimshaw whose shot found the net with home defenders scrambling to clear.

Celtic never gave up, Stuart Smith forcing a fine palmed save from Callum Jakovlevs and Ayres later had to make a smart interception to smother a half-chance.

Mikey Itela replaced Max White, and David Bondo played the last ten minutes in place of Carl Fitton.

There was time for two late Heys chance, Sixsmith making a fine run before seeing the ball nicked off his toes, and Itela setting up Grimshaw, but his shot went wide.

This game ended Heys’ three-game run of away trips to Cumbria, with just under 750 miles on the road under their belts since last Saturday, culminating with this accomplished performance at Cleator Moor.

Danny Vincent performed well at Centre-half, but this was a fine team performance and should set Heys up well for the visit of Nelson on Tuesday.

Heys Line-up: 1. Callum Jakovlevs 2. Darius Photiou 3. Carl Fitton 4. Max White 5. Mark Ayres 6. Danny Vincent 7. Dom Slaven 8. Danny Warburton 9. Lee Bruce 10. Danny Rio Wilson-Heyes 11. Lee Grimshaw. Subs: 14. Brad Sixsmith (for Wilson-Heyes) 15. Mikey Itela (for White) 16. David Bondo (for Fitton)