The damage was done in the first half here as a forty first minute strike from Liam Paton was enough to complete a 3-0 victory for AFC Liverpool against Prestwich Heys at the Marine Travel Arena on Saturday.

Heys were in the middle of a resurgence after improved results in recent weeks had seen them climb out of the relegation zone, albeit on goal difference, which is where they stood at the start of the day after last week’s 2-2 draw at home to Pilkington, and they were looking to improve on recent results away at AFC on a ground where they always seem to struggle.

Things got off to a poor start on four minutes when Heys got caught on the break and Caleb Jones ran down the left to fire past Heys keeper Harry Allen from twelve yards to put AFC 1-0 up.

The hosts continued to press, getting a lot of joy down the right hand side and on thirteen minutes Liam Paton rattled the far post with an impressive shot that bounced out to safety from which Heys broke and a cross came in to be met by a header from James Badrock, but Liverpool keeper David Parkinson easily saved.

This started a good spell of play for Prestwich and on eighteen minutes it was Alfie Belcher latching on from a Connor Martin pass but his shot was saved by the on running Parkinson and shortly after it was Martin himself missing a great chance to put the visitor’s level.

Back came AFC though, and they went further in front on thirty-one minutes when Elliott Taylor cut inside and smashed a shot bottom left past Allen with Prestwich struggling to cope with the pace of the Liverpool width and forward line.

Worse was to follow ten minutes later, again down the right as Jones skipped past two defenders and found Liam Paton unmarked at the far post to tap home for 3-0.

Belcher tried to respond for Heys on the stroke of half time but shot into the side netting to end a dominant half for AFC Liverpool who fully deserved to be three in front.

Heys manager Ryan Hutchinson had seen enough at the break and made three substitutions off went Taylor, Burke and Belcher, replaced by Sullivan, Hayder and Hughes and this brought some stability to the visitors play in the opening exchanges of the second half.

Winger Takura Sambizi dragged a shot wide of the far post for Heys on fifty-one minutes but back came AFC shortly after and sub Brad Sullivan was called into action, clearing one off the line at the other end.

The visitors kept pressing without a threat to goal and the game became a scrappy midfield battle with the hosts always looking comfortable despite few chances.

As the game drew to a close James Badrock had a header cleared while Sullivan fired a shot over the bar, however it was all in vain as AFC ran out comfortable winners in this one.

So, a day to forget for Prestwich Heys on a ground that continues to be an issue for them, they have lost on all of their six visits. They will be looking to improve on this next Sunday when they visit Abbey Hey (11.30am) in another crucial fixture in the battle to avoid the drop.

Team: Harry Allen, Luke Byron, Jack Taylor, Hudson Davies, James Badrock, David Badrock, Max Bardsley-Rowe, Michael Burke, Connor Martin, Alfie Belcher, Takura Sambizi, Subs: Louie Hutchinson (for Davies 74 mins), Ali Hayder (for Burke 45 mins), Gabriel Hughes (for Belcher 45 mins), Owen Percival (for Hayder 69 mins), Bradley J Sullivan (for Taylor 45 mins)

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