Report by Rick Barrett

It was all about the first half at the Haffners Stadium on Saturday for Prestwich Heys as an Alfie Belcher strike on the stroke of half time completed a vital 3-1 win in this relegation battle against Colne.

Heys came into this one bottom of the table, knowing defeat would see them six points adrift of the hosts and staring relegation from the North West Counties Premier Division in the face, so it was all to play for as the teams took to the field of play.

It was the visitors quickest out of the blocks in the first minute, a Connor Martin shot bringing a great save from Colne keeper Henry Turner, and on eight minutes it was Alfie Belcher bringing another save from the home keeper.

Heys continued with the early pressure as they continued to look lively and they had a great move on thirteen minutes with Belcher down the middle putting Martin through, but the ball was a bit too far him to latch on to as Turner ran out to collect.

Back came Colne though on eighteen minutes and a free kick on the right from Jordyn Fitton was looped deep and it was Shakil Ali, at the far post, with a header beating Heys keeper Harry Allen to put the hosts ahead with their first effort on goal.

Prestwich were not fazed though and hit back four minutes later. After a spell of pressure in the box the ball found Connor Martin six yards out who turned and shot bottom right past Turner for a deserved equaliser.

Heys were now playing with a confidence rarely seen this season, looking hungry for more, winger Takura Sambizi was next to show on thirty two minutes with a cross finding the head of Martin but his effort went over the bar, followed by young Bryson Appleton, on the right, bringing a save from Turner in the Colne goal.

This intense pressure told on thirty-nine minutes, and it was again the impressive Appleton cutting in from the right, ten yards out, to fire bottom left to put the visitors in front.

There was no let up from here from Heys and they added a third goal on the stroke of half time with a move befitting their dominant first half display. The move started with David Edwards knocking a peach of a ball over to Appleton on the right, and his cross found Alfie Belcher running in to smash home, to the joy of the large contingent of visiting fans cheering Prestwich on throughout.

So, Heys went into the break 3-1 up but knew they had to concentrate hard in the second half, keep their focus and see this one out, which is exactly what they did, pressing a high line limiting Colne to scraps which the visitors dealt with easily.

Appleton continued to press down the right firing wide on fifty-eight minutes as Heys manager Ryan Hutchinson made several substitutions to steady the ship and in a half of very few chances David Badrock headed over on eighty minutes.
It was to be two minutes from time before Colne had a shot in anger with substitute Alfie Walker firing wide from twelve yards.

Colne tried to press late on but even seven minutes of injury time awarded by the referee could not bring any joy for the hosts as Heys ran out comfortable winners.

So, these three vital points went to Heys after a really impressive display, full of attacking threat, along with an all-round disciplined focus to see the game out.

With four games left to play, starting with Ramsbottom United at home next Saturday (3pm), they have given themselves a huge chance of staying up and go into that game out of the relegation zone, it’s all to play for now.

TEAM: Harry Allen, Luke Byron, David Badrock, Gabriel Hughes, James Badrock, Jack Taylor, Bryson Appleton, David Edwards, Connor Martin, Alfie Belcher, Takura Sambizi Subs: Alistair Bracken (for Byron 95 mins), Joseph Thompson (for Sambizi 73 mins), Michael Burke (for Belcher 85 mins), Luke Jackson (for Martin 92 mins), Lee Grimshaw (for Appleton 73 mins)