On a night when Heys never really hit their stride, the goal was a moment of real quality in an otherwise generally untidy game.
Indeed, Chadderton will have left Prestwich wondering how they had nothing to show for their efforts. In the first half they were certainly the better side. However, what Heys lacked for in fluency they made up for in hard work and spirit. Whilst arguably riding their luck in the opening period they were resolute in the second to grind out a result that lifted them to fourth in the table.

The night did not start well for Heys as they were forced into an early reshuffle when Captain Jake Wood limped off with what looked like an ankle injury to be replaced by Danny Vincent.

It contributed to an uncomfortable start for the hosts with Chadderton making all the early running.

In the 7th minute Michael Smith was called into action as Jordan Butterworth’s shot from the edge of the area was gathered at the second attempt by the Heys keeper.

As the visitors maintained the pressure the crossbar came to Heys rescue as the electric pace of William Shawcross took him into the box before his shot came off the underside of the bar and back in to play.

Chadderton’s enterprise looked set to reap its reward in the 19th minute when as Heys struggled to clear, the ball struck a hand and the referee pointed to the spot. However, from the resultant kick, Smith was it’s equal, dropping to his left to save.

Although, Heys showed signs of gaining a foothold in the game they struggled to create openings, many of their moves unravelling on the back of misplaced passes.

Although nullifying some of the early threat posed by Chadderton, the Oldham side were still the more impressive, their play hardly reflecting their position of fourth from bottom in the table.

Indeed, it was not until the 38th minute that Heys created a noteworthy opening as Lee Grimshaw fed Chris Baguley, whose 20-yard shot went just wide of the post.

However, five minutes later Heys did find the back of the net. Grimshaw was again involved, linking well with Danny Warburton, before picking out Baguley on the edge of the area, who steered a great first time - shot into the bottom corner.
Chadderton almost levelled on the stroke of half time when Shawcross was denied by the post with a shot from the edge of the area to send the visitors in frustrated at the interval.

Heys looked to make a better start to the second period but the same general untidiness to their play continued to prevail.
Indeed, it was Chadderton who had the first chance of the half when James Dwyer’s free kick curled wide.

Although struggling going forward, Heys were strong defensively, generally nullifying the threat that Chadderton had posed throughout much of the first half.

However, they were still indebted to Smith in the 78th minute as he tipped a cross come shot from under the bar, the prelude to three successive corners which Heys struggled to clear.

Heys were almost given the chance to seal the points in the 86th minute when Chaddy keeper Jordan Hadley sent a clearance straight to Jordan Icely but some quick closing down by a defender saw the Heys man steer wide.

Looking for some reward for their efforts, Chadderton threw everything at Heys in the closing minutes plus almost six minutes of added time. Cryer maybe should have scored but he put a free header over and Butterworth tried an overhead kick which went wide.

When a low shot following a scramble in the box flashed across goal and wide, with what proved the final kick of the game, the visitors knew it was not to be.

Heys left delighted with the points if not the overall performance but with some justification they could feel such a win was due to them, given they have played far better in games this season and lost.

TEAM: Michael Smith, Jacob Holt, Carl Fitton, Danny Warburton, Mark Ayres, Jacob Wood (Capt), Jordan Icely, Dominic Butler, Lee Grimshaw, Chris Baguley, Rio Wilson-Heyes Subs: Danny Vincent (for Wood 5 mins), Jamie Baguley (for Butler 58 mins), Michael Itela, Hemsley Mills, Justin Pickering (for Chris Baguley (70 mins)