At the end this felt like a defeat. Looking to bounce back from Saturday’s heavy cup defeat, Heys controlled long periods of this game and looked to be on their way to a deserved win as they led 2-0 going into the final fifteen minutes.

However, a mistake by Heys ‘keeper Calum Jakovlevs presented St. Helens with a route back into the game. A long ball forward seemed to present little danger as it ran through to the Heys stopper. However, as the ball reached him he got his feet in an almighty tangle, totally missing his attempted clearance. Town’s Lewis Cain, who to his credit had continued to pursue what appeared to initially be a fruitless pursuit, was quick to react and lifted the ball into the unguarded net.

The complexion of a game that looked to be heading Heys way suddenly changed. The confidence drained from the hosts and from looking set for a comfortable win the momentum switched in favour of the visitors.

Five minutes from the end of the ninety, Town pulled level. From a free kick out to the left, the ball was drilled into the far post and Dominic Whelan rose the highest, to head into the opposite corner.

The spectre of defeat loomed again but Heys nervously saw the game through, including five minutes of added time, to secure a point.
It should never have come to that. Although not a vintage Heys performance it was one of merit.

Flashes of good football, moments of real threat and a real determination to succeed permeated their performance. Even when the ball didn’t seem to be running for them they kept going finally gaining the breakthrough in the 57th minute.

Save for the odd pocket of possession, the direction of the game had largely been towards the St. Helens goal.

Heys might have opened the scoring as early as the 6th minute when a rasping 25-yard shot by Carl Fitton was parried by Town keeper Carl Williams, sparking a scramble in the goalmouth that saw two shots blocked.

Mark Ayres went close, twice in as many minutes. First a near post shot was pushed round the post by Williams and then from the ensuing corner the centre-half’s header flashed across the face of goal.

St. Helens, largely on the defensive, were well drilled, absorbing much of what Heys mustered. It was not until the 36th minute, that they provided a credible threat, but it so nearly brought them the lead. Lomax burst into the box and his low shot was pushed to safety by Jakovlevs.

Heys almost went in at the interval, with the advantage their play would have merited when Rio Wilson-Heyes, showed great skill to pull a Jake Wood centre out of the air, taking a touch before firing in a low shot that went just wide of the post.

There was a delay to the start of the second half after the referee had to stand down due to illness. Fortunately, amongst the crowd was a suitably qualified official as “Barry” went from spectator to linesman and allowed the game to continue.

Heys continued in lively fashion on the restart with Jacob Holt going close with a near post snap shot from a Baguley corner.

The latter was at the hub of Heys best work and in the 57th minute his and Heys endeavours were rewarded. As the ball was worked left Wilson-Heyes cut inside and drilled in a low cross and Baguley timed his run to perfection to score with a low, first time shot.

With Town’s resistance finally broken, Heys added a second three minutes later. From a Baguley corner. Ayres header thudded off the crossbar and following up, Holt headed home from close range, for his first goal for the club.

St. Helens may have pulled one back shortly after. A low cross into the box found Whelan, unmarked ten yards out, but he spooned his shot over the bar.

However, it appeared only to be a brief moment of threat, Heys looked comfortable, heading for three points, but then came the twist and this, so far, most frustrating of seasons continued.

Team: Calum Jakovlevs, Jacob Holt, Carl Fitton, Danny Warburton, Mark Ayres, Jacob Wood (Capt), Jordan Icely, Chris Baguley, Theodore Kidd, Lee Grimshaw, Rio Wilson-Heyes Subs; Michael Smith, Michael Itela (for Kidd 62 mins), Lee Bruce, Justin Pickering (for Baguley 69 mins).