Max White put the smiles back on Heys fans faces with a 70th minute strike that gave his side victory over Premier Division Winsford United in the Macron Cup.

In a hard fought encounter, the game looked to be heading for a penalty shootout with the teams locked in a second half stalemate but the midfielder popped up to sweep home the decisive strike that booked Heys a home tie with AFC Darwen in the 2nd round on November 9th.

The game saw the first appearance in the dugout of Matt Barnes, brought in by Jon Lyons as Joint Manager during the week. However, the opening quarter, would doubtless have given the duo much to discuss.

Heys were unable to make any impression in the game in that period as Winsford controlled matters. However, whatever messages were sent from the touchline obviously reaped dividends as by the interval Heys could have held a handsome lead.

With four successive wins behind them, Winsford were quick out of the traps, playing with confidence and giving Heys little chance to establish any momentum. The lively, Obi Anoruo fired just wide in the 7th minute and then forced Heys keeper Russell Saunders to drop smartly to save four minutes later.

Nathan Cotterill was next to threaten for the visitors, getting clear to round Saunders, but as he shot goal wards, Mark Ayres, got back to tidy up and clear the danger.

Two minutes later, Winsford went close again. A lightning break from a Heys corner saw Anoruo go clear but Saunders excelled, coming out to smother his shot allowing Heys to clear.

It was not until the 26th minute that Heys got their first real sight of goal as Rio Wilson-Heyes found space to cross from which Brad Sixsmith lifted a first time shot over.

However, the opportunity marked a change in momentum in the game. Suddenly, it was Heys pressing forward and the visitors on the back foot.

On the half hour, the White brothers worked a short corner and Winsford ‘keeper Michael Langley had to be alert to cut out the danger from Max’s cross.

Moments later came a remarkable passage of play. Anthony Hall burst into the box and fired in a shot that came off the post, breaking loose to Jamie Sinnott whose shot was blocked by a defender. As the ball ricocheted around the area, Danny White saw a follow up effort diverted round the post.

Heys were flying now. Wilson-Heyes broke from deep before firing over before the industrious Sinnott then saw a shot cleared off the line.

On the stroke of half time, great work from Hall saw him pick out Danny White but the latter’s shot, with the outside of his foot, went just over.

Heys were probably disappointed to hear the half time whistle and indeed, it was Winsford who started the second period in more enterprising fashion.

The visitors should perhaps have taken the lead in the 53rd minute when one-time Heys striker Brian
Matthews rose in the box, but he put his close-range header wide

Heys responded on the hour with a strong run by Sinnott which took him into the box, before he teed up the incoming Max White whose shot cleared the bar.

With both sides battling for the upper hand and defences on top the game became untidy and a little attritional.

However, in the 70th minute the deadlock was broken. As Heys got forward a loose cross was seized upon by Wilson-Heyes, stopping the ball going out of play, he then turned and picked out a perfect pass for the incoming Max White to sweep home a first time shot and set off scenes of jubilation on and off the field.

The visitors took to the attack in a bid to rescue the tie but there was a confidence about Heys defending as they saw out the game for an ultimately deserved victory.

TEAM: Russell Saunders, Jacob Wood (Capt), Jacob Holt, Max White, Adrian Bellamy, Mark Ayres, Danny White, Brad Sixsmith, Jamie Sinnott, Rio Wilson-Heyes, Anthony Hall Subs Carl Fitton, Samuel O’Donnell (for M. White 86 mins), Joe Rothwell (for D. White 47 mins), Jordan Pendlebury (for Sinnott 90 mins), Will Shawcross