Rio at the double as Heys march on in Macron Cup

[i]Picture by David Featherstone[/i]

Report by Stephen Howard

Rio Wilson-Heyes struck twice as Prestwich Heys booked a place in the quarter finals of the NW Counties League Macron Cup with a 3-1 Third Round victory at Irlam on Tuesday night.

On a bitterly cold night Heys victory was hard earned as they overcame a difficult opening half hour to ultimately run out deserved winners with three goals in twelve minutes either side of half time, a spell which also saw the hosts level matters.

The first chance of the night came Heys way when good work down the left by Ryley Smith saw him find Greg Daniels in space and his first-time shot was saved superbly by home keeper Lee White, but an offside flag was to make it all in vain.

Indeed, Lee O’Brien and James Hampson’s side were slow out of the blocks as Irlam set the early pace with their strong running midfielders causing problems down the middle. Ethan Cartwright fired wide following a good break down the left. It then took a great piece of defensive work by Aaron Chalmers in the 17th minute as Jack Mitchell broke clear for the home side to round keeper Russell Saunders, however as he prepared to steer the ball into the net the Heys Captain produced a brilliant last ditch tackle to take the ball off the strikers toes and allow Saunders to gather.

As Heys began to find their feet, the game developed into a midfield battle as the half progressed with neither side making headway but on the stroke of half time Heys went ahead. A ball into the box eluded Greg Daniels but broke to Jacob Ngoy on the right to slip it inside to Wilson-Heyes who rifled a super shot into the top corner.

From there being no chances at all, Heys were to go close on two more occasions in added time with Wilson-Heyes almost in again with a shot that was deflected for a corner from which Chalmers headed wide.

However, Heys lead was to last until three minutes into the second half as the hosts levelled. A break down the right saw the ball delivered into the box and as Heys failed to clear Cartwright fired home to put the tie back in the melting pot.

The response from Heys however was emphatic as they hit back four minutes later to regain their lead. Smith received the ball out wide and picked a great pass out to find Matt Davies, breaking into the box, who took a touch to bring the ball into his stride before firing home from ten yards out.

There was a notable increase in Heys tempo this half and in the 57th minute they scored a third goal. Smith was again involved as he picked up a stray pass to find Davies whose shot from just inside the box came back off the keeper’s chest to fall for Wilson-Heyes to tuck away his second of the night from close range.

It was almost four, just after the hour, when Smith saw a free kick cannon off the crossbar as Heys threatened to run amok.

Irlam did manage to steady the ship but their efforts to find a way back into the game came up against a resilient Heys defence, marshalled superbly by Chalmers, which meant the visitors goal was never really threatened.

It was Heys who looked the more likely to add to their tally with Daniels firing over from 25 yards and substitute Hayden Ravenscroft drawing a save from White, late on, as Heys eased to victory and a place in the last eight.

TEAM: Russell Saunders, Jacob Ngoy, Nathan Emery, Pa Jenkins, Nathan Bartram Conway, Aaron Chalmers (Capt.), Rio Wilson-Heyes, Regan Brown, Greg Daniels, Matt Davies, Ryley Smith, Subs: Brad Sixsmith, Jordan Hadlow, Danny White (for Ngoy 76 mins), Jack Coop, Hayden Ravenscroft (for Smith 64 mins)