RUNCORN TOWN 1 PRESTWICH HEYS 3
SATURDAY 22ND AUGUST 2026 EMIRATES FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND ATT:140

Report by Rick Barrett
Pictures by Bethany Lee more pics here- https://flickr.com/photos/91307207@N05/albums/72177720335248800/

A goal in the eighty first minute from Matty Smyth secured Prestwich Heys more Emirates FA Cup glory in a 3-1 Preliminary Round tie win at the Viridor Community Stadium, home of Runcorn Town on Saturday.

Heys came into this one in confident mood after a 2-0 win in the league on Tuesday night against Glossop North End whilst Runcorn were in fine form winning all three of their opening fixtures in Midland Football League Premier Division, so all was set for a close encounter.

Prestwich boss Ryan Hutchinson named an unchanged side and witnessed a very tight opening half hour with both teams trying to get the upper hand in midfield but without any chances to speak of.

It was Runcorn first to show on twenty minutes and a big chance it was, as a lovely ball from the right cut through the Heys defence but striker Connor Spiers somehow missed his shot altogether and the ball was cleared to safety.

This jolted Prestwich into life, and they enjoyed the upper hand in the final quarter of the half starting with a great move on the left, Rob Worrall knocking a lovely ball over to Toby Green whose cross was cleared by the Runcorn defence. A minute later Abdul Djalo got the first shot on target, from eighteen yards, bringing a save from Town keeper Billy Davies.

Heys were pushing forward now with Green firing wide just before the break and one sensed the visitors did not want the half time whistle to come as they were in the ascendancy.

It was all to play for then as the teams went in goalless at the break and it was the hosts first to show after the restart with an early chance on the left with a cross into the box and a header wide of the far post. Heys keeper Austin Hall was then called into action on fifty-three minutes saving a shot from eight yards.

Shortly after Heys eased the pressure with a great move involving Worrall who found Dre Taylor whose twelve-yard shot brought a good save from Davies.

Heys were again stamping their authority on the game, and they took the lead on sixty-two minutes in spectacular fashion. Ellis Richardson, forty yards out, spotted keeper Davies off his line, and launched a shot that went over everyone including the stranded home keeper and into the back of the net to put Prestwich ahead, to the joy of the travelling support as the striker celebrated his first goal for the club.

The goal gave the visitors confidence, and they went further in front on sixty-seven minutes. It was Worrall again with a superb cross field ball finding Green on the right who fired a shot past Davies from twelve yards for 2-0 and leave Heys fans daring to dream of the next round.

It wasn't going to be that simple though as a mix up in the Prestwich defence, three minutes later, put Spiers through, and he fired past Hall from six yards to give Runcorn a lifeline. This prompted the Heys bench to freshen up the pack bringing on Bryson Appleton and Louis Holt for Djalo and Richardson who had both put in a huge shift.

The visitors were not distracted though after conceding and captain James Badrock had a header saved on seventy-five minutes with Taylor firing over shortly after, so it was no surprise when Heys went further ahead on eighty-one minutes.

Worrall was involved again with a free kick on the right which was floated in perfectly onto the head of Matty Smyth, six yards out, who made no mistake to score his sides third and put the winning post in sight.

Runcorn pressed forward trying to get back into the game, but the Heys defence stood firm and comfortably saw out the remainder of the game, including five minutes of injury time to complete a deserved win.

So, its Heys who progress to the First Qualifying round of this season’s Emirates FA Cup, and they can look forward to the next round after this confident display against a Runcorn side who had made a great start to the season and hadn’t lost at home since last October.

Heys will return to league action next Saturday when they take on Charnock Richard at Adie Moran Park ko 3pm.

TEAM: Austyn Hall, Reece Lascelles-Higgins, Luke Findlow, Matt Smyth, James Badrock, Josh Tinker, Josh Tinker, Toby Green, Abdul Djalo, Nicholas Dre Taylor, Rob Worrall, Ellis Richardson, Subs: Alistair Bracken (for Tinker 88 mins), Louis Hutchinson, Harry Cannon-Noren (for Lascelles-Higgins 90+5 mins), Lewis Ayres (for Green 87 mins), Louis Holt (for Richardson 69 mins), Bryson Appleton (for Djalo 69 mins), Lucas Bancroft