Didsbury fight back sinks Heys - full report

By Rick Barrett

A seventy-second minute strike from Ezeikel Eme was enough to secure a first home win of the season for West Didsbury and Chorlton at the Step Places Stadium on Tuesday night against Prestwich Heys in front of a bumper crowd of 587.

Heys were in confident mood after Saturday's 3-0 opening day win against Burscough and manager Lee O'Brien made three changes bringing in full back Nathan Emery, midfielder Kai Haigh and striker Mitch Bryant.

It was a very tight in the opening exchanges and the first chance was Prestwich’s on 17 minutes when midfielder Connor Berry, on the right, shot low and wide from twelve yards. Shortly after the hosts came back with Dontai Gabidon shooting over the bar.

With both teams going toe to toe Kai Haigh saw a free kick go over the bar on the half hour mark from twenty-five yards out. The visitors pressed again five minutes later, Callum Nicholas with a great strike, bringing a terrific save from Didsbury keeper Andrew Jones who tipped round the post from twelve yards.

On forty-one minutes another set piece was whipped in by Nathan Emery, low across the box, which no one could connect on to.

A late chance came for Gabidon, again bringing a save from Heys keeper Jordan Latham although in truth, the home side could have had a penalty as striker Benjamin Elliott was brought down on the follow up, but the referee waved play on.

So goalless at half time in a very tight game and one sensed this could go either way in the second half which got off to an explosive start with some pushing and shoving near the home dug out, after a challenge. When it ended, Didsbury manager Chris Rowley was shown the red card by the referee.

Before the hosts had time to process it, Heys went a goal up in the 55th minute and what a goal it was. Callum Nicholas on the right launched a low drive twenty-five yards out which flew past Jones and into the net to the joy of the travelling Prestwich support.

Heys continued to press and in the 64th minute, full back Damian Skolorzynski knocked a dangerous cross in which couldn't be converted.

Back came Didsbury, who were starting to put on the pressure. As Heys conceded possession in the middle of the park on sixty-seven minutes, the ball was worked down the right, into a crowded penalty area and it was left to Elliott to strike home from six yards at the second attempt for the equaliser.

With Didsbury now in full flow they were ahead just five minutes later. Great work by the impressive Gabidon down the right saw him find the unmarked Eme with a cross, who slotted home from six yards out to put the hosts ahead.

Worse was to follow for Prestwich as defender Scott Cullen limped off as it all started to unravel from what had been a positive first hour of the game.

Heys did rally though and substitute Tyler James had a goal disallowed on eighty-three minutes for offside. Fellow sub Kaiden Barlow made a great run down the right in the ninety third minute but caught in two minds, shot over when he had teammates in the middle to square it to.

In the dying embers Didsbury keeper Jones made a terrific save from a twenty-five-yard Connor Berry free kick that could have snatched a deserved point for Prestwich.

However, it wasn't to be as the referee blew the final whistle and it was a case of 'what might have been' for Heys who battled hard but just came up short. They will look back on missed chances here which could have made the result a very different story.

TEAM: Jordan Latham, Damien Skolorzynski, Nathan Emery, Aaron Chalmers, Rudy Misambo, Scot Cullen, Connor Berry, Kai Haigh, Connor Berry, Mitch Bryant, Callum Nicholas, Dylan Fitzgerald Subs: Vincent Howell (for Nicholas 68 mins), Kaiden Barlow (for Fitzgerald 68 mins), Danny White for Haigh (70 mins), Tyler James (for Cullen 73 mins), Connor Morris (for Bryant 80 mins