New Era off to a flier as Heys see off Steeton

By Rick Barrett

The new era at Adie Moran Park got off to a flying start as Prestwich Heys secured a deserved victory at Steeton.

Matt Barnes and his new backroom team have been frustrated by the weather since taking charge a fortnight ago, with successive postponements, but would have been delighted at the outcome here after a week that saw four new signings and the departure of some familiar names.

Indeed, when Barnes first team sheet was released it saw four players in Reece Lyndon, Dominik Williams, Oliver Hatfield Banton and Nathan Emery making debuts whilst there a welcome return to fans favourite Alfie Belcher, returning from his scholarship in the USA until the end of January.

The hosts, although propping up the table, came into the game as one of the form teams in the table, unbeaten in four matches, all against sides in the top half of the table.

However, it was Heys who started the stronger and more confident. Belcher wasted no time getting straight into the action with a darting run down the right before knocking in a dangerous cross to Brad Sixsmith whose close-range shot was scrambled clear by Steeton keeper Daniel Thorpe.

Heys were pressing with Joe Rothwell and Brad Sixsmith pulling the strings in the middle and Emery looking lively in the early stages.

Their pressure brought its reward in the 18th minute. Striker Reece Lyndon was upended in the penalty box and a spot kick was awarded with Zack Dale making no mistake, hitting bottom right, to put the visitors in front.

Heys continued to control matters and Belcher, down the left this time, knocked a lovely through ball to Dale but his shot went wide left of the post in the 24th minute.

It was at this point Steeton started to get more into the game with Heys becoming a little careless in possession and a darting run into the box on 34 minutes saw a superb but vital interception from Sixsmith who then managed to clear the ball to safety.

For all Steetons pressing though they failed to seriously test Russ Saunders in the Heys goal and it was the visitors who had the last chance of the half as Dale ran through for a one on one with Steeton keeper Thorpe but the keeper got the better of this one pushing Dale's shot wide of the post.

After shading the first half, but with only a slender lead to show for their efforts, Heys needed to focus after the break but they endured some nervy moments notably in the 47th minute when Hatfield Banton was dispossessed on the edge of the box and the Steeton striker Kayle Price dragged his shot wide right when he looked certain to score.

Prestwich managed to get back on track however and almost doubled their lead in the 55th minute when a rasping shot from Belcher from 25 yards out crashed against the crossbar.

Gaining the upper hand in the middle of the park, Heys increased their lead on the hour. It was the midfield engine room that created and scored a lovely second goal as Joe Rothwell seized possession in the Steeton half, who worked a great one-two with Brad Sixsmith, before continuing his run, and he made no mistake in slotting the ball past the advancing Thorpe.

With both teams battling hard, Steeton thought they were back in it in the 73rd minute but a header from a corner on the left rattled the Heys crossbar and bounced out to Jamie Sinnott, on as a substitute, who knocked a beautiful cross field pass of some 50 yards from right to left releasing Zack Dale down the flank who crossed in to Rio Wilson-Heyes whose shot from six yards out was somehow saved and cleared by Thorpe.

Back came Steeton and they got their reward on 77 minutes when a free kick on the right 20 yards out was curled into the top right of the net superbly by Luke Baldwin giving Saunders absolutely no chance.

It left Heys facing a nervy finish but Steeton were unable to create any clear-cut chances against some resolute defence.

Three minutes from time Heys put the game to bed. From a free kick Dale bagged his second launching a 35-yard screamer which rocketed into the top left corner of the hapless Thorpe's goal capping an impressive afternoon’s work from the Heys forward.

However, there was Late drama to follow as a minute from time, Rothwell, who had been superb all afternoon went for a ball with Steetons Ben Clarkson. Without a challenge and the ball running out for a throw in Clarkson kicked Rothwell in frustration who retaliated starting a mass brawl with all 22 players involved.

When order was restored, Clarkson was shown a straight red and Rothwell who had already been booked for an earlier incident was show a further yellow and red for retaliation.

The final whistle blew shortly after leaving Manager Barnes happy to get three points in his first sole game in charge, which saw Heys move from 15th to 9th in this very tight division. With five players in the team playing together for the first time and on the back of three successive losses, the importance of this win could not be under underestimated.

TEAM; Russell Saunders, Dominik Williams, Jacob Holt (Capt.), Joe Rothwell, Adrian Bellamy, Oliver Hatfield-Banton, Zack Dale, Brad Sixsmith, Reece Lyndon, Alfie Belcher, Nathan Emery Subs: Daniel Vinten, Jordan Pendlebury, Rio Wilson-Heyes (for Belcher 63 mins), Jamie Sinnott (for Williams 55 mins), Francesco Frangillo (for Lyndon 75 mins)