Heys humbled by rampant Wythenshawe

By Stephen Howard
Pictures courtesy of Martin Ogden

The last time these two sides met at Adie Moran Park in the spring of 2016, Heys triumphed 3-0 and in doing so celebrated winning the Manchester League Premier Division title, on their way to the NW Counties League. Wythenshawe followed them two years later, but on Tuesday night it was they who showed their intention to step up another level come next April.

Heys had their moments in this game and maybe had they capitalised on those opportunities at certain times the outcome may have been different. In truth though such notions are fanciful. Every time Heys threatened to impose themselves on the game, the visitors found another gear to take the game away from them. This was a thrashing. Wythenshawe were faster, sharper, savvier and played with an intensity that Heys never looked like matching.

With Heys unbeaten in four and the visitors having won every match they have played so far, this game always looked like a litmus test for both sides, both holding designs on challenging for promotion. It was the hosts who started the brighter, creating the first chance in the 4th minute when Kaiden Barlow burst into the box before seeing his shot pushed to safety by keeper Kyle Haslam.

It was to be about as good as it got for Heys for a while. After a period of untidiness, the visitors began to take control. In the 14th minute they came mightily close to scoring when Joe Bevan burst forward before firing in a shot that came off the foot of the post with Heys stopper Jordan Hadlow rooted to the spot.

The fast attacking play of the visitors was causing Heys real problems, stretching them out wide and each move invariably ended with either a shot or fiercely driven cross. In the 16th minute it brought an opening goal. A ball into the box saw Heys struggling to clear and Joel Aikenhead swept home from close range.

Then came one of those moments for Heys. Almost from the kick off they broke with Matt Davies down the right who crossed for Isaac Lee, breaking into the box, but alas his first time shot went wide.
In the 25th minute they went close again. Davies again made a great break into the box and crossed for Nathan Emery whose shot on the half volley was tipped over the bar by Haslam.

Two minutes later, though Heys found themselves two goals down. A lightening break culminated in Ryan Shenton finding space on the edge of the area and his shot took a deflection into the bottom corner.

Heys were struggling to stay in the game at this point, but spirited defence was helping them to repel the Wythenshawe attacks. When the hosts did get forward, they showed signs they could cause problems. Jack Coop had a shot blocked but he was not to be denied in the 39th minute as he made no mistake with a close header from a cross Vinny Howell.

Back in the game, the home side made a lively start to the second half, but Wythenshawe were to take the game by the scuff of the neck. In the 53rd minute, some swift interplay cut though Heys midfield and when Bryan Ly rolled the ball across the box, Bevan fired low past Hadlow.

Bevan and Ly then both went close for the visitors as they threatened to run amok. In the 63rd minute they added a fourth goal. Bevan was again involved as he cut through the Heys defence before seeing his shot come crashing down off the cross bar for the incoming Adam Davies to head home.

As the pressure continued Hadlow saved well, low down from Bevan and then dropped low again to hold an Aikenhead effort.

Up against it Heys somehow climbed off the ropes and in the 69th minute pulled a goal back. The pace of Tyler James took him into the box and when he pulled the ball back, Barlow was on hand to rifle home.

Cue, two minutes later, another of those moments as Davies crossed to find Coop whose shot on the half volley was tipped onto the bar by Haslam. A comeback nipped in the bud?

It certainly was in the 75th minute as Wythenshawe opened up Heys with a quick exchange of passes before the ball was driven into the bottom corner by Bevan. Game over.

Things might have got worse for Heys in the 85th minute when Declan Lamb rifled a shot against the post. When Rio Wilson-Heyes was sent off in the 89th minute for kicking out the misery was complete.

This was a sobering night for Heys. Wythenshawe were relentless in all they did from first minute to last and on this showing look good to vindicate the pre-season tipsters. Heys started the season with hopes of their own. The consolation is that that there are still 41 games to go. Plenty of time for them to reset and go again. The challenge has been set.

TEAM: Jordan Hadlow, Brad Sixsmith, Nathan Emery, Vinny Howell, Regan Brown, Aaron Chalmers, Issac Lee, Greg Daniels, Jack Coop, Matt Davies, Kaiden Barlow SUBS: Tyler James (for Lee 58 mins), Saidkhon Khamidov, Kayle Power, Nathan-Bartram Conway, Rio Wilson-Heyes (for Sixsmith 58mins)