Report by Rick Barrett / Stephen Howard

Prestwich Heys bowed out of the Isuzu FA Vase at the first hurdle as they were beaten at Barnsley based Worsbrough Bridge Athletic in the First Qualifying Round on Sunday.

It was an afternoon when Heys were again made to reflect on what might have been. They started brightly but again failed to take their chances to make it count and paid the price against a side who themselves had found goals hard to come by, scoring only once, in five games prior to this fixture as a hat-trick from Keelan Grist proved decisive.

On an overcast afternoon, the early exchanges were cagey, but it was Heys who were first to find their momentum. In the ninth minute, a ball over from the right found Erike Sousa twelve yards out, but his shot went wide of the mark.

However, encouraged by this Heys continued to press and they had the ball in the net in 13th minute when from a Sousa cross Finley Stanyer headed home only to be judged offside. Three minutes later Heys luck was out again as brilliant work from Dylan Fitzgerald on the left saw him beat his man before shooting but his effort hit the post before being cleared.

Sousa was back in the action in the 25th minute following a great ball in from the left by Regan Jarrett, but the former couldn’t connect as another chance went by.

It was not until the half hour that the home side showed any real threat, and it took a good save from Heys keeper Louis Hood as he came out to block. However, two minutes later Worsbrough were to take the lead. The goal came from a corner on the left, that was swung towards the far post and Grist was on hand to head home.

Heys had an immediate chance to restore parity when Luc Ferry broke through the middle, but host keeper Rabone was quickly out to block. It was another missed chance that Heys were left to rue as in the 36th minute Worsbrough doubled their lead.

In truth, it was one of those goals that you can’t do anything about. An absolute stunning strike as Grist let fly from 20 yards out to give Hood no chance whatsoever.

With work to do, the Heys Management made a double substitution at half time as the Reeves brothers, Fenton and Sonny, replaced Ferry and Taylor O’Keefe.

It was the hosts who were first to show though as they went close from a free kick before Heys missed another chance in the 55th minute as Sousa went clear only to shoot straight at the ‘keeper.

However, two minutes later, Heys did find the net as from a Fitzgerald free kick the ball found Sousa, six yards out, and this time he made no mistake in finding the net and putting his side back in the contest.

With momentum behind them, Heys pressed. Good work by Sonny Reeves created an opening for Fitzgerald, but his shot took a deflection wide before in the 70th minute the latter fired in a cracking shot that Rabone pushed over the bar.

Sousa fired over in the 82nd minute as Heys looked to restore parity but a minute later they were left with a mountain to climb.

As the home side broke forward Jack Appleyard found space to fire in a shot that beat Hood before then striking both posts. However, it was that man Grist who was in the right place at the right time again, to sweep home for his hat-trick.

To their credit Heys didn’t throw in the towel and deep into injury time they pulled one back when Fitzgerald slotted home his third goal of the season. It was to prove only a consolation however as Heys, despite plenty of endeavour, came up short.

TEAM: Louis Hood, Hensley Mills, Regan Jarrett, Edward Schryburt, Nathan Bartram-Conway, Finley Stanyer, Erike Sousa, Gabriel Mooney-Munoz, Dylan Fitzgerald, Luc Ferry, Taylor O’Keefe. Subs: Callum Graham, Adam Hampshire, Sonny Reeves (for Ferry 45 mins) Fenton Reeves (for O’Keefe 45 mins), Ardian Gashi for Sousa (83 mins)