Heys sunk by Daisy Hill fightback

by Rick Barrett

It was back to the 'bread and butter' of league action after two successive cup matches as Heys made the short trip to Daisy Hill for this re arranged Monday night fixture.

It was a cold night and the drama started even before the kick-off for Heys as midfielder Max White tweaked his hamstring in the warm up and Danny Vinten had to deputise.

So, the game commenced with Heys kicking up the slope for the first half on a heavy pitch and they set about their task well with attempts on goal from Danny Vincent, Jamie Sinnott and Zack Dale in the first 15 minutes. It was apparent Heys wanted to repair some pride from the 3-0 reversal at home to 'the Cutters' just a couple of weeks beforehand.

With the pressure mounting Heys broke the deadlock on 18 minutes with a lovely worked goal. It was Dom Slaven who took control of the ball in midfield and played a great pass to winger Anthony Hall, on the left, who made a darting run before putting in a perfect cross to Zack Dale who, from six yards out, steered his shot past Daisy Hill keeper Steve Dryden and into the net, thus opening the strikers Heys account after his recent signing from Barnoldswick Town.

The next 20 minutes were a midfield battle but one that Heys were winning and more joy was to follow in the 37th minute when a corner on the right from Anthony Hall was intelligently left by Jacob Wood to find Zack Dale, again on edge of the box, who drove a low shot bottom right making no mistake for 2-0 to the visitors who were firmly in the box seat at this point.

Heys were not done, and neither was Zack Dale with a blast from 12 yards that brought a superb save from Dryden denying him a first half hat trick.

Unknown at the time but that save was to be a key moment in the game.

So, a textbook good solid half from Heys who just needed to carry the good work from the first 45 minutes, but things were not going to be that simple.

It was noticeable from the kick-off that the home side increased the pace of the game by utilising the wingers more and this was to be a change of tactic that caught Heys cold.

As early as the 49th minute the deficit was halved when Heys keeper Russ Saunders went for the ball with Daisy Hills James Bateman, but the striker got the better of it to scramble the ball home from 12 yards

Heys tried to respond soon after as Dale down the right cut inside and shot wide but now the home side were well on top with Saunders making two great saves in succession.

The pressure finally told on the hour, but in controversial circumstances, as a goal mouth scramble was cleared but with the Daisy Hill players appealing that the ball had gone over the line with James Bateman again having hit the shot, but despite no flag from the linesman, the referee under pressure from the home players then goes over to consult and a goal was awarded for 2-2.

Heys were under the cosh now with Saunders twice coming to the rescue and were a far cry from that confident midfield display shown in the first half.

Jordan Pendlebury, on as a sub for Anthony Hall, managed a shot on 65 minutes which brought a great save from the home keeper but just 5 minutes later the home side took a deserved lead as again Bateman, this time unmarked on the edge of the box, shot bottom right to complete his hat trick and pile on the misery for the visitors.

But to their credit, Heys rallied and got back into seeing a big penalty shout refused on 73 minutes for a push in the box on Brad Sixsmith, just after he had put a header wide of the post.

Zack Dale then had a couple of good chances to complete his hat trick and did get the ball into the net on 75 minutes but was ruled offside.

More heartache for the visitors came on 82 minutes when midfield stalwart Dom Slaven limped off when pressing forward, shortly after Heys fans roared as Dale went clean through, but his shot was tipped over the bar when a late equaliser looked on.

So, 3-2 to the home side at full time and to the naked eye this looked like a game of two halves, but the reality is this was not the case. It was a lack of concentration and carelessness for a 20-minute spell after the break which was Heys undoing here and as the frost set on the Daisy Hill pitch so did the realisation from the Heys contingent that this was three points dropped. Whilst the top four finish needed for promotion is still a possibility, Heys will need to focus much harder when in winning positions to see out games if they want to be in the mix towards the end of the season.

TEAM; Russell Saunders, Joe Rothwell, Danny Vincent, Dan Vinten, Adrian Bellamy, Jacob Wood, Zack Dale, Brad Sixsmith, Jamie Sinnott, Dom Slaven, Anthony Hall Subs; Jordan Pendlebury (for Hall 64 mins), Sean Cookson (for Slaven 82 mins), Logan Holroyd, Rio Wilson-Heyes

Heys next game is again in the League on Saturday 14 December where Garstang visit Adie Moran Park kick off 3pm