Late goal sinks Heys at Stone

By Rick Barrett

After their triumph on penalties on Tuesday in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy at Padiham, Heys were on the road again in cup competition, this time in the form of the Playermatch.com Cup against Counties Division 1 South side Stone Old Alleynians.

Heys started brightly and had two chances in the first 10 minutes with Jamie Sinnott charging down the right and crossing but just a bit too high for the incoming Heys striker Jack Coop to connect with.

Shortly after it was Coop again who launched a shot from the edge of the box, just wide of Stone keeper Adam Alcock’s right.

As the half progressed the home side slowly began to take control of the game with a neat and tidy passing display making it difficult for the visitors to get hold of the ball.

Their possession finally turned into a goal on 27 Minutes when out on the left, 18 yards out, Heys defender Jacob Wood slipped when trying to clear enabling Jordan Erdmann to intercept the ball and confidently shoot past Heys keeper Russell Saunders to break the deadlock.

The remainder of the half was a scrappy affair until on the stroke of half time Heys put together a neat passage of play to equalise. Jack Coop gained possession in the middle of the park to put Heys wide man Anthony Hall through a gap and he slotted past Alcock to send the sides in level at the break.

The first chance after the interval fell to Heys as Sam O'Donnell shot straight at the keeper from 12 yards out.

The hosts responded, having a great chance as William Bailey went clean through only to shoot wide of Saunders left post.

That was a warning sign for Heys. The home team were keeping hold of the ball far better than the visitors and frustration caught up with Heys captain Jacob Wood on 72 minutes, when after a couple of altercations with the referee, the yellow card was brandished and the Heys man was sent to the sin bin for the mandatory 10 minute spell.

Stone were now pressing for the winner, looking to capitalise on the advantage of the extra man but Heys were still in the contest as proved on 74 minutes.

A lovely 30-yard ball from left to right from Brad Sixsmith, who again had a strong afternoon, found substitute Will Shawcross whose run took him into the box before unleashing a shot which flew agonisingly wide of the left post.

During the spell of being down to ten men forward Shelton Payne, on as a sub, dropped into the back four to cover, doing an effective job but in a strange twist of fate when back to their full quota Heys seemed to lose focus and shape.

A fierce 12-yard shot for the home side came flying in with Heys keeper Saunders making a superb save tipping over the bar but worse was to follow on 85 minutes.

From a corner, a ball high into a crowded penalty box, found the head of Oliver Davies, six yards out, which went past Saunders into the net

Heys upped a gear in the closing minutes with Rio Wilson Heyes breaking down the left but he took one to many touches when a shot on goal was possible. Then in the 89th minute the travelling fans were aghast as Shelton Payne, on the edge of the box, unmarked, had a great chance to grab a draw but his shot sailed over the bar and with it Heys last chance.

Despite a good effort, Manager John Lyons will be looking for his team to start scoring goals again and one senses when they do good things are still around the corner.

Team: Russell Saunders, Kieran Sherlock, Carl Fitton, Brad Sixsmith, Jake Wood, Adrian Bellamy, Samuel O’Donnell, Danny Vincent, Jack Coop, Anthony Hall, Jamie Sinnott Subs: Will Shawcross (for Fitton 47 mins), Shelton Payne (for Sinnott 70 mins), Rio Wilson-Heyes (for Coop 58 mins), Darius Photiou