Heys edged out at Carlisle

report by Scott White

The second leg of Heys’ Cumbrian adventures saw them make an early departure up the M6 and a tricky looking trip to Carlisle City, who have started the season in good form.

The game started at a frenetic pace, but there was an early setback for Heys as Jacob Holt picked up a knock and Mark Ayres, recently re-signed from Northwich Victoria, came on to replace him.

The first threat from the visitors came on nine minutes when Lee Grimshaw saw a shot blocked on the edge of the area, and soon afterwards, Rio Wilson-Heyes and Dom Slaven combined well before the final shot cleared the bar.

Eleven minutes in, Carlisle City took the lead when Robert McCartney made contact to send the ball looping high over Callum Jakovlevs and over the line.

Ayres went close just before the twenty-minute mark when Heys got themselves into the Sky Blues’ penalty area, but the shot bounced past the far post.

Debutant Danny Warburton then went down in the penalty area leading to loud shouts for a penalty, that were waved away by the referee, and Carlisle then went straight back down the other end and forced a good save from Jakovlevs.

Heys had responded well after falling behind but survived a scare when a long free-kick was allowed to bounce and Jakovlevs had to punch the ball behind.

Great work by Carl Fitton saw him somehow get in a cross when he looked blocked in the corner, but there was no-one on hand to exploit the chance.

The best chance of the half fell to Danny White, who neatly worked space in the penalty area before shooting towards the far corner, but the home ‘keeper saved well.

Shortly afterwards, a ball from Max White found Jacob Wood, but his downward header skipped past the post, before the last opportunity fell to Carlisle with a powerful drive that zipped past the post.

The main feature of the first half was the high tempo of Carlisle’s game, and their crisp passing game in the final third, but this wasn’t to be maintained as Heys dominated the second half.

Dom Slaven drove a good effort just wide of the post, and after Lee Grimshaw earned a corner, the ball bounced loose in the Carlisle area, but the home defence managed to hoof clear.

Carlisle had clearly tired after their first half exertions, Grimshaw going close before Mikey Itela replaced Danny White.

Just after the hour mark, Rio Wilson-Heyes, who enjoyed a great game, went on a magnificent run, his final shot going inches over the bar.

When it looked like Heys would draw level, disaster struck on seventy-five minutes when Carlisle worked the ball well to their left flank, and a fine cross to the far post was headed home by Michael Slack.

The last fifteen minutes saw Prestwich press hard to get back in the game, but they had a let of when Carlisle had three chances to put the loose ball in the net, squandering all three opportunities.

Wilson-Heyes saw two shots blocked, and with eight minutes left, Heys grabbed a lifeline when Max White clipped in a free-kick which Lee Grimshaw forced home.

For all their effort and hard work, Heys could not get any further breakthrough, so despite a good performance, returned home with no reward.

Heys Line-up: 1. Callum Jakovlevs 2. Darius Photiou 3. Carl Fitton 4. Dom Slaven 5. Jacob Holt 6. Jacob Wood 7. Danny White 8. Jamie Baguley 9. Lee Grimshaw 10. Danny Warburton 11. Rio Wilson-Heyes. Subs: 12. Mark Ayres (for Holt) 17. Mikey Itela (for Danny White)