Heys suffer last gasp defeat at Kendal

Prestwich Heys promotion hopes took a blow as they suffered a heartbreaking last gasp defeat at Kendal Town on Tuesday night.

After a hard fought ninety minutes, with little to choose between the sides, a superb 25 yard strike by Joseph Dickinson in added time gave the hosts victory to leave Heys outside the play off spots in the NW Counties Premier Division and Kendal now in that crucial top five.

The Cumbrians came into the game in good form with only one defeat in the last six whilst, amongst a raft of postponements Heys form has tailed off in the last month in which they have been without a win.

For both teams this was a key game and it showed in a lively start with Saidkhon Khamidov firing over in the opening exchanges before Heys keeper Russ Saunders was called into action to keep out a Rob Wilson header from the Mintcakes.

Heys responded with a couple of chances of their own with Gabriel Mooney-Munoz shooting over before a great run and cross by debutant Harvey Roberts flashed across the face of goal with no one able to get a decisive touch.

Both sides continued to play some enterprising football with Heys holding sway in the middle of the park and Kendal looking threatening going forward. Dylan Fitzgerald and Connor Brotherton put shots over for Heys with Finley Lynch doing likewise with a header for Kendal.

However, the best chance of the half came on the stroke of half time as the impressive Roberts picked out Fitzgerald whose close range shot was saved superbly by home keeper Christopher Cheetham.

The hosts were the first to show on the restart with Leyton Holden heading over from a corner. Heys responded though by creating two good chances themselves with Cheetham gathering a close range header following a Roberts centre and then on the hour he saved at close range to deny Fitzgerald.

Heys continued to look the more likely but in keeping with recent matches we’re finding that final finish to some good football missing. In a bid to pep the attack striker Connor Martin, on his way back from a lengthy injury absence, replaced Fitzgerald as they sought the breakthrough.

However, it was Kendal who were next to show with Steven Yawson seeing a shot blocked before James Craig fired just wide.

As the game entered the final ten minutes the outcome remained very much in the balance as both sides sought the breakthrough. Heys threw Jack Coop into the attacking mix, after a long absence, but it was Mooney-Munoz who was next to threaten for them in the 88th minute as he cut into the box before going down under a challenge, but Heys appeals for a penalty were waived aside.

Then, in the 93rd minute came the decisive moment of the night as Dickinson collected the ball 25 yards out before letting fly with a superb strike that beat the dive of Saunders before nestling in the top corner signalling rapturous celebrations in the home camp but heartbreak for Heys.

TEAM: Russell Saunders, Jacob Ngoy, Saidkhon Khamidov, Pa Jenkins, Jack McConnell, Aaron Chalmers (Capt.), Harvey Roberts, Connor Brotherton, Bradley Sullivan, Dylan Fitzgerald, Gabriel Mooney-Munoz; Subs : Connor Martin (for Fitzgerald 76 mins), Rio Wilson-Heyes (for Roberts 85 mins), Nathan Bartram Conway, James Hampson, Jack Coop (for Sullivan 88 mins)

Heys now sit seventh in the table, with 59 points from 34 games, five points behind Kendal who have played three games more. This was a cruel blow to Heys promotion hopes but their fate remains in their hands as they head to Glossop North End on Saturday (3pm) before a derby clash at Ramsbottom next Tuesday (7.45pm)