Report by Stephen Howard

Pictures courtesy of Clive Lawrence Photography

Heys first home game of the season ended in defeat as Padiham took the points with a 2-0.
victory at Adie Moran Park.

After their opening day draw at Euxton Villa, Heys entered the game with a degree of confidence but knew that the visitors would provide a stern test with the Lancashire side highly fancied this season after successive appearances in the playoffs.

As if to confirm that Padiham set off at an electrifying pace and they threatened to take Heys apart in the opening half hour.

It was Heys who had the first sight of goal after Takura Sambizi saw a shot held low in the fifth minute, but it was to prove a rare early opportunity as Padiham went ahead in the 8th minute as a free kick into the box, from the right was met by Lee Pugh who fired home from ten yards.

Buoyed by the goal the Storks took control, asking some real questions of the home defence and they increased their lead in the 18th minute when a cross into the box was met by a sharp finish by Joel Brownhill at the near post.

Heys were struggling to gain any sort of a foothold in the game and were fortunate not fall further behind. A smart save from Alex Brown denied Freddie Machell and then Jack Price broke from the right to fire in a shot, but the post prevented further damage to the home side.

There was a further let off in the 27th minute when the impressive Brownhill went through but with only Brown to beat, he somewhat surprisingly pulled his shot wide of the far post.

It could easily have been four or five by this point but Heys to their credit dug in and began to put some football together themselves. A great move in the 34th minute, started by a great run down the left by David Badrock, saw Sambizi and Connor Martin combine to pick out Dre Taylor whose shot came off the post.

Encouraged by this, five minutes later the crossbar denied them after a surging run into the box and shot by Luke Byron.

On the stroke of half time, Padiham again threatened when former Heys player Pa Jenkins broke into the penalty area but Heys ‘keeper Brown got down well to keep out his shot.

Nontheless, the final quarter of the half offered Heys encouragement for the second half and they carried that momentum forward.

They had the ball in the net on the hour, but it was ruled out for a foul on Padiham keeper Brad Sullivan and the former Heys stopper then saved at close range to keep out a Connor Martin effort.

Huge appeals for a penalty were then waived aside in the 64th minute when Taylor appeared to be caught by a high challenge as he shaped to shoot.

The impetus was with Heys, in stark contrast to the first half hour and although there was a feeling the visitors were content to sit in and defend their lead there was a weariness in their play.

Heys looked to add some extra firepower to their attack by introducing Mworina Doro and Michael Burke and the former was soon in the thick of the action, breaking through, only to be denied by a super save by Sullivan in the 75th minute.

As the game entered the closing stages, however, hopes of a comeback began to fade, but Heys spirit remained undimmed and substitute Owen Percival headed just over in the 90th minute as the visitors managed the game out to maintain their one hundred per cent record.

In defeat Heys could take some positives in the resilience they showed to stay in the game and come back to trouble a side who will clearly be amongst the front runners this season.

TEAM: Alex Brown, Luke Byron, David Badrock, James Badrock, Jack Taylor, Josh Tinker, Bryson Appleton, Rob Worrall, Connor Martin, Nicholas Taylor, Takura Sambizi, Substitutes: Reece Lascelles-Higgins (for Byron 80 mins), Owen Percival (for Worrall 84 mins), Mworina Doro (for Martin 65 mins), Michael Burke (for Tinker 74 mins), Lee Grimshaw (for Appleton 80 mins)