Pickering double and Smith saves give Heys victory

ST HELENS TOWN 1-2 PRESTWICH HEYS
HALLMARK SECURITY LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION NORTH
THURSDAY 1st NOVEMBER 2018 by Scott White

Heys claimed a hard-earned three points against a determined St Helens Town side, and propelled themselves into their highest league position of the season as their reward.

Both Heys’ goals came in spells of the game when the home side were on top, and some exceptional goalkeeping from Mike Smith kept the visitors on terms or better throughout.

Whilst St Helens had more chances, Heys had the better ones and Chris Baguley forced a smart one-handed save by Carl WIlliams on five minutes as Prestwich set the early pace.

St Helens recovered well, and spurned a good headed opportunity before enjoying a spell of pressure and a series of corners.

Chris Baguley was again the dangerman on eighteen minutes when he fired in a trademark free-kick, but the home side responded well and Daniel Greene scuffed a chance wide.

Heys suffered a massive disappointment on eleven minutes when Danny White hobbled off injured, his return to the side shortlived, Rio Wilson-Heyes taking his place.

Just after the half-hour, Mark Ayres went close with a header from a Baguley corner, and three minutes later, the deadlock was broken.

A fine through ball from Jamie Baguley bounced once in from of Justin Pickering before he unleashed a powerful first time shot into the far corner to give Heys the lead.

Two good chances came and went for Chris Baguley and Lee Bruce, the latter after great work from Wilson-Heyes and Pickering.

There was still time for Greene to get in a shot, which Smith saved well, and the Heys’ keeper was called on a minute later to stop a good chance and ensure that the visitors went in a goal to the good.

Town were quickly out of the traps in the second period, and aside from a fine run and shot from Wilson-Heyes, the home side had the bit between their teeth in search of a leveller.

It came on fifty-four minutes when a cross was not cleared, and was promptly played back across goal where Thomas Grimshaw hammered into the roof of the net.

Three minutes later, and Heys were dealt another blow when Chris Baguley took a knock and Dominic Butler took his place.

Heys didn’t take long to dust themselves down, however, as just before the hour mark, a Wilson-Heyes cross was clipped upwards and looped over the St Helens defence Pickering reacted first to fire home.

The last half-hour saw the game stretched, the best chances for Heys coming for Pickering, who was on the warpath looking for his second hat-trick of the season.

He had a couple of long-range efforts, and turned creator on sixty-six minutes when he played Bruce in, who cut back well for the oncoming Wilson-Heyes, but his shot was blocked.

At the other end, Smith was called upon to make a series of vital stops, most notably from St Helens substitute Liam Diggle when he looked favourite to score.

With seven minutes left, Danny Warburton replaced Jordan Icely before Smith again frustrated Diggle with a smart save.

St Helens had one more great chance to equalise but Andrew Presho drove his effort high and wide and Heys returned back up the East Lancs with all three points.

Heys Line-up: Mike Smith, Darius Photiou, Carl Fitton, Danny White, Mark Ayres, Jacob Holt, Jordan Icely, Jamie Baguley, Lee Bruce, Chris Baguley, Justin Pickering. Substitutes: Dominic Butler (for C Baguley), Danny Warburton (for Icely), Hensley Mills (not used), Michael Itela (not used), Rio Wilson-Heyes (for White)