Shawcross double sparks Heys victory at Holker

Writes Scott White

Heys faced a much-improved Holker Old Boys but put in an accomplished performance in testing conditions to rack up a 4-0 victory.

The home side played down the slope in the first half and kept Heys in check for the first quarter of an hour.

Prestwich had chances, Liam Healey drove past the post early on and Brad Sixsmith shot straight at the keeper, but Holker matched Heys early on.

Sterling work from Darius Photiou kept the home side out, and then Mike Smith made a smart one-handed save on fifteen minutes.

Heys then got a tight grip on the game, Carl Fitton seeing a free-kick deflected onto Jacob Wood, his header hitting the bar, but the offside flag was raised.

Next, Rio Wilson-Heyes played a fine crossfield ball to Fitton, his cross was held up in the strong wind and Sven Gibson headed inches over.

The visitors were now playing some good stuff, and Wilson-Heyes released Brad Sixsmith down the right with a lovely pass, but Holker held their line well to block.

With ten minutes left, Heys took the lead and it was the lively Will Shawcross that broke the deadlock.

The winger jinked his way into space before unleashing a magnificent effort into the top corner.

Holker’s Nathan Reid did well to work himself into a shooting position, but Smith did well to stop and then smother the ball.

Just before the break, Wilson-Heyes combined well with Sixsmith, his cross ended up on the head of Lee Bruce, but it was too strong for him to direct on goal.

The second half saw Heys tighten their grip on the game.

A resolute Old Boys managed to hold out until the 54th minute when a Liam Healey crossfield ball was superbly controlled by Shawcross, who then ran along the edge of the penalty area before firing into the net for 2-0.

Heys then introduced Cory Knight, making his debut, and Dom Slaven for Bruce and Fitton.

Just after the hour, Shawcross made a great run to the by-line but his cross was touched by the home keeper, falling just behind Knight.

The respite only lasted two minutes though, Knight held up the ball before touching it on for Sixsmith, who took it round the keeper and slotted home.

Wilson-Heyes and Healey combined well on 65 minutes, but the keeper was alert to the danger and then Alfie Belcher came on for Sixsmith.

Holker continued to compete but continued to get little change from Wood and Sven Gibson.

The result was sealed late on when Healey slipped a pass through for Belcher, the Holker defender made a hash of blocking it, and Alfie made no mistake to make it 4-0.

Heys Line-up: Mike Smith, Darius Photiou, Carl Fitton, Liam Healey, Sven Gibson, Jacob Wood, Rio Wilson-Heyes, Jamie Baguley, Lee Bruce, Brad Sixsmith, Will Shawcross. Subs: Cory Knight (for Bruce), Dom Slaven (for Fitton) Alfie Belcher (for Sixsmith), Danny White and Chris Baguley (not used)