Report by Rick Barrett

A Max Bardsley-Rowe strike eleven minutes from time completed a shock result in the Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary round, as North West Counties Premier Division side Prestwich Heys beat Northern Premier League Division One West side Wythenshawe Town 4-2 at Ericstan Park on Saturday.

Heys were looking for a response after a battling 2-0 defeat to Padiham in the week whilst Wythenshawe were playing their first competitive fixture of the season, not starting their league campaign until next weekend.

It was a tight opening quarter with both teams trying to get a grip of the midfield, and the hosts went a goal up on twenty one minutes with their first opportunity as Heys keeper Mason Walker rushed out of his area on the right and the eagle eyed Wealth Da Silva lobbed the ball over him and into an empty net.

Back came Heys though, James Badrock fired a free kick over a couple of minutes later and Josh Tinker fired wide of the far post after good work by wide man Bryson Appleton as they looked to find a way back into the game.

It was Appleton who was starting to make inroads as Heys looked to fightback and joy came in the forty second minute when referee Robert Slinger awarded a penalty to the visitors for hand ball. Up stepped full back Luke Byron but his spot kick was saved by Town keeper Aidan McKerney, diving to his left.

So despite being the better side Prestwich trailed at the break but knowing with a bit more clinical finishing they could get back into this and that's exactly what they did in the form of striker Michael Burke who got the ball on the right just a couple of minutes after the restart and fired home top left from eight yards for a deserved equaliser.

The visitors continued to press with some lovely free flowing football with midfielders Rob Worrall and Josh Tinker pulling all the strings and Appleton causing havoc with the Wythenshawe back four.

It came as no surprise on sixty-three minutes when winger Takura Sambizi, who also signed a contract with the club after the game, put Heys in front with a terrific strike into the bottom right past McKerney, after a great through ball from Worrall.

Appleton it was again on seventy-three minutes, down the right, his cross just evading the on running Dre Taylor and young Bryson was given a standing ovation by the large contingent of travelling support when replaced by Max Bardsley-Rowe on seventy-six minutes.

Back came Town though in controversial circumstances a minute later, as Dylan Woods smashed the ball past Walker, but the linesman's flag was up. However, referee Slinger overruled it, and the goal stood for 2-2.

It was a short-lived reprieve for the hosts though as back came Heys from the kick off driving through the middle and the ball found Josh Tinker whose shot from twelve yards gave McKerney no chance and put Prestwich 3-2 up.

Heys continued to press, and it was no shock when they scored another on eighty-one minutes. Sub Max Bardsley-Rowe took a touch on the right and then smashed it past McKerney, and he nearly had another goal just after, dragging a shot wide.

Wythenshawe tried to respond but Prestwich held firm as the referee blew the whistle ending this impressive display from a spirited Heys side against opponents from the league above.

Heys now move to the Preliminary round where they will play Atherton Collieries on the weekend of 14th-16th August.

Team: Mason Walker, Luke Byron, David Badrock, James Badrock (Capt.,), Jack Taylor, Josh Tinker, Bryson Appleton, Rob Worrall, Michael Burke, Dre Taylor, Takura Sambizi, Subs: Reece Lascelles-Higgins, Mworina Doro (for Burke 69 mins), Louie Hutchinson (for D. Badrock 86 mins), Lee Grimshaw, Max Bardsley-Rowe (for Appleton 75 mins), Jacob Ramplin (for Sambizi 78 mins), Owen Percival (for Taylor 86 mins)