Shoot out glory for Heys after Sixsmith’s late double

By Rick Barrett

Cup success was still fresh in the mind for Prestwich Heys after last Saturdays narrow 1-0 victory at home to Winsford United in the Macron Cup as they travelled to Division 1 South side West Didsbury and Chorlton in the second round of the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy, having defeated Padiham in round one.

The drama started in the warm up for Heys as defender and captain Jacob Wood picked up a knock in the warm up so Darius Photiou deputised.

The home side started the brighter and Heys keeper Tony Simpson who was making his Heys debut in place of the injured Russ Saunders, was called into action twice in quick succession on 15 minutes diving to his right from 12 yards and shortly after diving to his left from 18 yards.

Heys were struggling to get a foothold in this game and the first chance came on 20 minutes when Max White fired in a free kick but saw it go over the bar.

The away side at this point started to get into the midfield more and get the ball wide notably in the 27th minute when Rio Wilson Heyes darted down the right put in a cross and Anthony Hall in the middle just could not connect.

Shortly after came Heys best chance of the half with a cross coming in from the left the Didsbury back four appeared to freeze leaving Jamie Sinnott unmarked but from 12 yards out his shot went wide of Didsbury keeper Andrew Jones's left post.

Didsbury did have the ball in the back of the net on 35 minutes and whilst the referee initially seemed happy to give the goal the linesman saw an infringement for handball and the goal was disallowed.

It was Heys keeper Simpson again into action on 40 minutes somehow managing to keep a fierce shot out from 20 yards that was heading into the bottom right.

The home side were now back in control and so it proved just before half time when the deadlock was broken on 43 minutes when a swinging corner, in from the left, found the head of Thomas Horner to beat Heys keeper Simpson from 6 yards out.

So, a deserved 1-0 lead for Didsbury at the break and worse was to come straight after the restart when, almost from the kick off, James Sigsworth, who was having an eventful evening, ran down the right and crossed to the awaiting James Cottee who made no mistake from six yards out with the Heys defence caught cold.

At 2-0 down the away side were up against it and for the next 20 minutes it showed with the home side dominating possession although Max White was very unlucky on 58 minutes with a 20-yard drive that hit the right-hand post.

Despite the home side being on top it must be noted that Heys kept battling to make amends.

In the 68th minute, came an act that raised eyebrows with both the home and travelling support that later in the game would prove to have a significant impact on the proceedings as Didsbury made two changes substituting arguably their two best players in goal scorer Cottee and Sigsworth.

Didsbury continued to press forward and more drama came on 73 minutes when the home side were awarded a penalty after a foul by Brad Sixsmith but Simpson was again, to be a hero saving to his right and as ball the rebounded-out Jacob Holt cleared the follow up shot off the line.

Ten minutes from time the home side broke clean through the middle but Simpson again, diving to his right, saved the day.

On 86 minutes Heys never say day attitude was rewarded as a cross on the left from Wilson-Heyes found the busy Sixsmith and he drilled a shot from 20 yards in to the bottom right corner. Was this to be a consolation?

Not a bit of it!

Heys tails were up now and they were going for it. Centre half Adrian Bailey had been pushed forward late on for extra height and in the 91st minute this paid off. As he headed the ball into the box Didsbury keeper Jones miscued the clearance straight to Sixsmith who lobbed it back over and into the net to complete an amazing turnaround and send the impressive turnout of 21 Heys fans wild.

So, with a deep breath and as in the previous round it was down to penalties. It was soon 2-1 to Heys with Anthony Hall and last round’s hero Dylan Moth scoring before Didsbury then missed. Max White made it 3-1, Carl Fitton 4-2 and so it was left to defender Jacob Holt who smashed home the final penalty for 5-3 and spark jubilation amongst players and travelling support alike on a dramatic night.

Heys never say die attitude gave them reward when arguably the home side thought the game was won and the away contingent went home wondering who they might get in the quarter-finals.

Heys return to league action next Saturday 26 October away at Daisy Hill