PRESTWICH HEYS 1 SOUTH LIVERPOOL 2
TUESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2026 EMIRATES FA CUP 1ST QUALIFYING ROUND REPLAY ATT:210

Report by Stephen Howard
Additional reportage by Pete Coles

Prestwich Heys Emirates FA Cup adventure came to an end as they were beaten by South Liverpool in a First Qualifying Round replay at Adie Moran Park on Tuesday night.

After twice coming from behind in Saturday’s 2-2 draw on Merseyside, courtesy of an injury time equaliser by Ellis Richardson, Heys were looking to carry that momentum into this replay as they looked to reach the 2nd Qualifying Round for the first time in 43 years.

It was the visitors who were quickest out of the traps however, forcing an early corner and then finding the back of the net in the 4th minute but Brandon O’Keefe was flagged offside.

Heys first chance came in the 13th minute when great work down the left by Luke Findlow saw him pick out Richardson, who pulled his shot narrowly wide.

However, a minute later the visitors went ahead, when a through ball cut through Heys defence and O’Keefe went through to round Heys keeper Kyle Haslam and slot home.

Looking to respond quickly, a great ball in on the right from Jamal Crawford, making his first Heys start, was missed by Richardson but found by Lewis Ayres whose well struck shot went straight into the arms of South Liverpool keeper Dominic Garner’s arms.

It signalled a better spell for Heys as they began to assert themselves on the game. In the 33rd minute a lovely ball through by Dre Taylor found Crawford, who whipped the ball into the box where Richardson tried a cheeky backheel towards goal, but the ball was shepherded out by the South Liverpool defence.

Heys went closer still a minute later when Bryson Appleton skipped into the box, rounded several players and then managed to get his shot away, but the ball ricocheted off the upright.

The visitors remained a threat on the break however and in the 41st minute they doubled their advantage. As they worked the ball to the edge of the area James Flight took a pot shot from outside the “D” and saw Haslam in attempting to gather, spill the ball, into the net, leaving Heys staring down a barrel.

However, in first half added time, they pulled a goal back. A great free kick into the box by Appleton was met by the head of James Badrock to put Heys back in the hunt.

Prestwich came out strongly after the interval, Appleton fired wide and then a corner caused consternation in the visitors’ defence before being cleared. In the 56th minute, Findlow burst down the left, but no one could apply the finishing touch to his cross.

Heys continued to look for a way back, but the South Liverpool defence stood firm limiting Heys opportunities.

With ten minutes remaining, a corner from Josh Tinker picked out Richardson and for a moment it looked like his glancing header was on its way in, but it agonisingly drifted wide of the post.

Two minutes later Findlow floated a nice ball into the box, which was met by the head of Taylor, but the keeper managed to get his hands to it and keep hold of the ball as Heys attackers looked to pounce.

Taylor tested the keeper again with a shot in the 84th minute, after good work by Appleton, but Garner was again equal to it.

As the game moved into five minutes of added time Heys continued to press and there were huge shouts for a penalty when Appleton went down as he burst into the box, but the referee waived the claims aside and then booked the Heys man. As the clock ticked away South Liverpool were able to see the game through and progress into the next round and end Heys FA Cup journey for another year.

These two sides meet again on Saturday, this time in the League, with Heys making the trip to Liverpool for a 3pm kick off.

TEAM: Kyle Haslam, David Badrock, Luke Findlow, James Badrock (Capt.), Matth Smyth, Lucas Bancroft, Bryson Appleton, Nicholas Dre Taylor, Ellis Richardson, Lewis Ayres, Jamal Crawford,
Subs: Alistair Bracken (for Taylor 90 mins), Reece Lascelles-Higgins (for D. Badrock 79 mins), Louie Hutchinson (for Ayres 83 mins), Ruben Ndienguila, Josh Tinker (for Crawford 79 mins), David Kerrigan (for Bancroft 79 mins), Mitchell Henry