Late Colls rally sinks Heys

Prestwich Heys pre-season preparations continued with a 3-0 defeat to Atherton Collieries at Adie Moran Park on Saturday.

It was a harsh score line on Heys who contributed much to an entertaining game against a Colls side that have made rapid progress up the non-league pyramid in recent years under Manager Michael Clegg.

Clegg took over at Colls in 2014 and has overseen a rise from the North West Counties League First Division, up though the League’s, culminating in their promotion to the Evo Stik League Premier Division at the end of last season.

However, it was not until the last fifteen minutes of the game that the visitors took charge as their greater experience and fitness came to the fore.

Prior to that the teams had gone toe to toe, taking it in turns to enjoy periods of control and create chances.

Heys started the better but it was Colls who were to go the closest to scoring with a shot just going wide of the post.

However, on the half hour a great move involving Alfie Belcher, James Sinnott and Lee Grimshaw ended with the latter’s low shot being pushed to safety as Heys upped the ante.

Indeed, before the interval Heys might have opened the scoring as Sinnot flashed a shot just wide and Jordan Pendlebury went agonisingly close with a close-range effort.

Atherton started the second period the stronger, seeing a shot come off the bar before Heys responded through the lively Pendlebury who twice went close, shooting into the side netting and then across the face of goal.

The tireless Brad Sixsmith (pictured) then curled an effort wide before in the 75th minute Colls took the lead. A great move was met at the far post by a super header by Ian Rowlands, a player who figured on loan at Heys last season.

The goal temporarily knocked the stuffing out of Heys and sloppy defending provided a gilt edged second for Colls three just three minutes later.

However, the hosts responded with Pendlebury denied one on one and Rio Wilson-Heyes was thwarted at the near post before Colls added a late third.