Coop breaks 50 goals as Heys sink Ramsbottom

Report By Stephen Howard

Pictures courtesy of Ramsbottom United

Jack Coop blasted his way past the 50-goal mark for Prestwich Heys as they came out on top with an ultimately comfortable win over Ramsbottom United at Adie Moran Park on Tuesday night.

The Heys striker went into the game with 49 Heys goals to his name but by half time he had hit and then passed the half century milestone to set his side on their way to victory which was sealed by a superb strike by Kai Haigh midway through a second half during which Heys could have added to their tally.

This first “Bury” derby of the season was a hard-fought affair and in the first half there was little to choose between the sides. Indeed, the visitors arguably enjoyed the better of things in the opening forty-five minutes, but it was the hosts who went in two goals to the good as Coop struck twice to end the night with 51 goals from 75 appearances.

Both teams came into this first competitive meeting of the season in good form and on the back of impressive away wins at the weekend with the hosts winning on the Isle of Man and the Rams at League leaders Kendal Town.

It was the away side who started the better with Oscar Radcliffe heading wide from a corner in the 5th minute, although overall there was a low key feeling to the opening exchanges as both sides tested each other out.

Heys were struggling to find their rhythm and were forced into an early change when Brad Sixsmith picked up a knock to be replaced by Tyler James in the 12th minute. However, three minutes later they sparked into life and came close to opening the scoring as from the second of successive corners from Saidkhon Khamidov, a header from Nathan Bartram- Conway was cleared off the line.

Ramsbottom then swept right down the other end with Henri Ogunby breaking into the box and shooting low but Heys ‘keeper Jordan Hadlow dropped sharply to save.

The visitors continued to look the sharper with the ball but Heys, although enjoying less of the possession, were looking comfortable in defence, limiting the Rams to a couple of long range efforts, whilst looking capable of springing forward which they did to great effect in the 35th minute to take the lead. A lightning break by Khamidov down the left got Heys up the field and when he cut inside, he found Coop, some 30 yards out. They striker then took a touch, advanced a few yards before then firing a great shot past the despairing dive of Rams keeper Ryan Hamer for his 50th Heys goal.

Five minutes later it was fifty-one goals. As Heys hit their stride the away side got themselves in a real mess as they struggled to clear their lines and a wayward clearance by Hamer, from outside his box, went straight to Rio Wilson-Heyes who broke forward before driving the ball goalwards. On its way, the ball was seized on by Coop who fired home with Hamer still scurrying back.

Heys took their momentum into the second half. Within two minutes Bradley Sullivan created space for Wilson-Heyes whose low shot curled wide of the post and then in the 51st minute the energetic Khamidov burst forward and fired in a shot from 25 yards that Hamer pushed away for a corner.

Ramsbottom eased the pressure with a couple of corners, but the threat was from Heys. On the hour a rapid break down the left ended with James cutting into the box, forcing Hamer to gather his shot at the second attempt under pressure from the lurking Greg Daniels.

A promising move down the right from the visitors ended with a first time shot from Matt Dudley who fired just over but any hopes they harboured of a comeback were well and truly shot to pieces in the 69th minute with a stunning goal from Kai Haigh.

As Heys broke, James cut in from the left to find Haigh, some 25 yards out and he let fly with a rocket shot that flew into the top corner, beating Hamer all ends up.

Heys were now in full flow as Daniels fired just wide and then another lightning attack saw Khamidov’s crossfield pass pick out Wilson-Heyes whose angled shot came off the inside of the post and out.

Six minutes from time, Dudley had perhaps the Rams best chance of the game when he created space for himself, but his shot beat Hadlow and the far post before the evening ended with Hamer gathering a Kayle Power free kick at the second attempt.

After a hard fought start, it had been indisputably Heys night, bringing them a third successive win and to within three points of the play off positions. They will look to maintain their momentum at fourth placed Chadderton on Saturday (3pm) before hosting League Leaders Kendal Town next Tuesday night (7.45pm)

TEAM: Jordan Hadlow, Jacob Ngoy, Saidkhon Khamidov, Kai Haigh, Nathan Bartram-Conway, Kyle Jacobs (Captain), Brad Sixsmith, Greg Daniels, Jack Coop, Bradley Sullivan, Rio Wilson-Heyes Subs: Malachi Slaven (for Sullivan 85 mins), Russell Saunders, Tyler James (for Sixsmith 12 mins), Luke Nicholls for Coop (75 mins), Kayle Power (for Haigh 69 mins)