Heys suffer Wythenshawe woe

By Rick Barrett

A goal from Thomas Bentham early in the second half was enough to secure a 3-1 win for Wythenshawe Town against an in form Prestwich Heys at Ericstan Park on Tuesday night.

Heys came into this one on the back of a 4-2 win against Squires Gate on Saturday and were on a run of just one defeat in the last thirteen league games and welcomed back full backs Nathan Emery and Brad Sixsmith into the starting line up.

It was Prestwich very quickly out of the blocks in the first minute, striker Rio Clegg firing from six yards at Town keeper Gregory Hall and shortly after Clegg found himself running in on goal with Hall managing to collect the ball before he got a shot in.

Back came Wythenshawe on thirteen minutes, Lee Wilshaw rising above the Heys defence from three yards with a header bringing a terrific save from Heys keeper Jordan Hadlow, but from the resulting corner it was a carbon copy header from Louis Jeanne, at the far post this time, to put the home side in front somewhat against the run of the early play.

Town continued to press and it was Chinedu Uche on the right knocking a ball in deep which eluded everyone across the goal and went wide. Prestwich tried to get back into it, Matt Davies bringing a save from Hall, but the linesman flagged the rebound attempt offside.

Heys had a penalty appeal on twenty-five minutes when a ball into the box from Emery brought a big shout for handball, but the referee waved play on, but it was the home side further in front on thirty minutes. A poor passage of play from the visitors conceded possession in the middle and the ball was slipped through to Bruno Severino who made no mistake slotting past Hadlow from six yards to put Wythenshawe two goals up.

The home side were now on top with Heys struggling to find any rhythm but a goalmouth scramble on thirty-five minutes saw Jacob Ngoy try to get a shot in and keeper Hall smothering the ball.

Hadlow was called into action again shortly after tipping a twenty-yard free kick over the bar, but the visitors finished the half strongly with great work by Clegg on the right finding Greg Daniels who fired over.

So Heys found themselves two goals down at the break and one felt the third goal would be crucial in this one, Heys management team of Lee O'Brien and James Hampson made two half time changes bringing on striker Jack Coop and centre half Nathan Bartram-Conway for Brad Sixsmith and Saidkhon Khamidov in an attempt to get back into it.

It was Coop getting into the mix early on laying the ball off to Kyle Jacobs who fired over, but it was disaster for Heys on fifty four minutes as a ball on the left came in deep, keeper Hadlow spilled the ball straight to Thomas Bentham who tapped in for 3-0 and now a mountain to climb for the visitors.

Bentham nearly increased the lead on sixty-four minutes cutting inside on the right and curling just over the bar.

Heys tried to respond Clegg again, who worked tirelessly all night, found Davies but his twelve-yard shot went wide of the far post. As the half went on Heys kept plugging away at the Town defence but they stood firm and the hosts always had the upper hand in midfield and a nice three man move on seventy-seven minutes, followed by a goal chalked off for offside shortly after, almost had them further in front.

Heys fighting spirit was rewarded in the final minute after great work by Ngoy down the right saw Daniels nip in past keeper Hall at the near post for a consolation at 3-1 and so the referee blew shortly after for full time.

Defeat here then for Prestwich Heys in a game where mistakes cost them dearly and Wythenshawe Town deserved the victory but Heys, whilst not at the best, never gave up when heads could have dropped. After the third goal they battled on and will take this spirit into the next game and hopefully keep our run going.

TEAM: Jordan Hadlow, Brad Sixsmith, Nathan Emery, Pa Jenkins, Jacob Ngoy, Aaron Chalmers (Capt.,), Kyle Jacobs, Greg Daniels, Matt Davies, Saidkhon Khamidov, Subs: Leighton Egan, Jack Coop (for Khamidov (45mins), Russ Saunders, Nathan Bartram-Conway (for Sixsmith 45 mins)

Rick has his own Heys blog - View from a Sandgate Bridge at https://rickbarrett753.wixsite.com/website-2