Heys through in penalty shootout drama

PRESTWICH HEYS 2 WYTHENSHAWE 2
(Heys win 7-6 on penalties)

by Stephen Howard

Prestwich Heys progressed into the Third Round of the North West Counties League Macron Cup with a thrilling penalty shootout victory over Wythenshawe at Adie Moran Park on Tuesday night.

On a bitterly cold night both sides made light of a frost covered pitch to produce a rousing Cup tie that ebbed and flowed throughout. Both had chances in the game itself to win the tie but after ninety minutes they could not be separated after Greg Daniels twice struck from the penalty spot to level matters after Heys had twice fallen behind. The shoot out itself also provided its fair share of drama before Heys prevailed 7-6.

Heys were quick out of the traps at the start of the first half and created two chances in the opening minute. Firstly, Daniels played in Ryley Smith, but his shot was blocked by Wythenshawe keeper Kyle Haslam with his legs and as Heys reworked the ball Matt Davies saw his shot hit the outside of the post.

Haslam thwarted Heys again in the 7th minute when Pa Jenkins and Connor Berry combined to release Davies whose shot was smothered by the keeper.

As the game settled and both sides battled for superiority the visitors, who presently lead the Premier Division table, began to find some momentum themselves and in the 20th minute they took the lead as Darryhl Mason broke down the right and put in a great cross for Bryan Ly to slot first time past Russ Saunders from ten yards.

The lively Mason went close again six minutes later when, as Heys struggled to clear a corner, he whipped in an angled shot that flew just wide of the far post.

Heys were next to have a sight of goal as they exposed the visitors high defensive line with Berry finding space before attempting an audacious long range shot over Haslam which drifted wide.

As the action switched to the opposite end Heys were indebted to Saunders in the 32nd minute as he pulled off a double save as he dropped to keep Mason out, one on one and then as the ball broke, he blocked Joe Bevan’s follow up effort on the line.

Not to outdone, Haslam preserved his sides lead in the 36th minute when Daniels played in Smith, but the stopper, for the third time of the evening, saved one on one.

Berry fired wide for Heys on the stroke of half time to bring the curtain down on an action-packed half and the second period was to prove no different.

As the sides emerged onto an almost white pitch it was Wythenshawe who threatened first from a set piece corner in the 55th minute which culminated in Saunders saving at full stretch from Bevan before Joel Aikenhead, on the follow up, saw his shot hit the outside of the post.

A minute later Berry again sprang the offside trap for Heys but as he broke into the box, he pulled his shot wide.

However, just after the hour Heys pulled level. A jinking run by Smith took him into the box before he was upended giving the referee an easy call for a penalty from which Daniels fired home into the top left corner.

The goal sparked a good spell from Heys and Smith sliced wide after some good interplay with Davies.

However, it was the Ammies who were to strike next in the 73rd minute when from a free kick free kick across the face of the goal Ly’s ball was met by Aikenhead who steered it home at the far post.

Three minutes later Wythenshawe had a chance to wrap the game up when Mason fired a low ball across the six-yard box from which Sajid Elhassan hit the bar.

It was a let off Heys capitalised on as in the 82nd minute they levelled for a second time. Again, it was Smith breaking into the box, only to be brought down for a penalty and again it was Daniels who this time thumped the ball to Haslam’s right top corner to maintain his fine scoring form.

In a nervous finale, which flowed one way and then the other, neither side could capitalise to send the game to penalties, and more drama.

Daniels opened by holding his nerve to beat Haslam for a third time in the evening. Both teams scored their first two spot kicks before Kyle Jacobs hit the bar to give Wythenshawe the advantage with their third effort making it 3-2 in their favour.

Nathan Emery scored Heys fourth before Saunders saved the visitors fourth effort only for one of the linesmen to signal the keeper had moved off his line. The retaken penalty was scored and although Sam Freakes scored Heys fifth spot kick it meant that Wythenshawe had the chance to win it with their fifth effort, but Saunders saved and this time it counted to send it into sudden death.

More drama followed as Haslam saved from Smith, but he was then adjudged to have left his line. From the retaken kick the Heys man fired home. Wythenshawe then levelled before Nathan Bartram-Conway made it 6-5 for Heys.

Wythenshawe then levelled again before Regan Brown scored to make it 7-6. Then, finally came the decisive moment as Wythenshawe blasted their next effort over the bar to send Heys through and give them a 3rd Round trip to Irlam.

Team: Russell Saunders, Jacob Ngoy, Nathan Emery, Pa Jenkins, Nathan Bartram-Conway, Regan Brown, Connor Berry, Kyle Jacobs (Capt.), Greg Daniels, Matt Davies, Ryley Smith Subs: Saidkhon Khamidov, Jordan Hadlow, Sam Freakes (for Jenkins 75 mins), Hayden Ravenscroft (for Berry 75 mins), Danny White