IRLAM 1 PRESTWICH HEYS 1

SATURDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2025 NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION ATT:325

Report by Rick Barrett
Pictures by Bethany Lee

It was last minute heartbreak for Prestwich Heys as an injury time goal from John Johnston was enough to give Irlam the three points at the Silver Street Stadium on Saturday.

Heys were still looking for their first League win of the season, although unbeaten on the road, and welcomed back midfielders Rob Worrall and Alfie Belcher into the side whilst Irlam were looking to continue a positive start to the season, lying in third place in the table at the start of the day.

The hosts got off to the perfect start scoring in the first minute when a corner on the right caused confusion in the box and Declan Daniels tapped home past Heys keeper Lee White with supporters still entering the ground.

Prestwich discarded this early setback though and responded quickly with a massive chance to equalise on six minutes, Connor Martin, down the left, beat the advancing Irlam keeper Jack Buckley and crossed to an unmarked Alfie Belcher in the box but his shot was cleared off the line by the defender to safety.

Heys continued to press and on twelve minutes it was Bryson Appleton down the right, finding Belcher who brought a save from Buckley with the visitors getting on top of the midfield battle.

Irlam tried to respond on twenty-seven minutes, Jack Mitchell crossed in a dangerous ball which was cleared by the Heys defence and Daniels headed wide shortly after.

It was the visitors though enjoying the majority of the possession, Belcher fired another shot over and had another big chance on thirty eight minutes when great work by Dre Taylor on the right put Takura Sambizi through, twelve yards out, but his shot brought a great save from Buckley, diving to his left to keep the hosts in front.

As the half drew to a close Rob Worrall fired a twenty-five-yard free kick over the bar and as referee Jamie Tomlinson blew for half time it was Heys looking more likely to get back into this rather than the hosts extending their lead.

It was a nervy first quarter to the second half, Irlam enjoying more of the ball and trying to press but without creating any real chances with first opening coming Heys way in the 64th minute as Appleton got in on goal with a lovely first touch however he was unlucky as the ball bobbled with Irlam keeper Buckley able to collect.

Prestwich started to pile on the pressure again, Appleton inventive down the right whipping in a cross that just evaded the head of Martin, but the striker took his next chance on seventy minutes, the ball finding him twelve yards out on the left and he made no mistake, cutting into the box before firing low to the bottom left past Buckley for a deserved equaliser.

Martin could have had the visitors in front just after the goal, but keeper Buckley kept him at bay before the stopper then got down to an Appleton shot on eighty minutes.

Irlam were trying to find a way back in through winger John Johnston, knocking in a couple of crosses that the home attack could not get on the end of, but it was Prestwich looking for the winner, Buckley tipping one over from Appleton and Rob Worrall firing a couple of shots over late on.

Referee Tomlinson awarded four minutes of injury time and in the second of those Heys had a free kick on the edge of the Irlam box but a careless shot was easily cleared down the left to put the hosts on the break and when the ball was crossed to Johnston he made no mistake, slipping the ball past White to give the hosts the three points for a win that had looked unlikely.

So, a frustrating day for Heys, who deserved something from this game after dominating for long periods, and while there were plenty of positives on display here they will need to improve their finishing in the final third if they are to climb the league table soon. They have an opportunity to do this on Tuesday when they take on West Didsbury and Chorlton at Adie Moran Park ko 7.45pm

TEAM: Lee White, Joseph Camozzi, Luke Findlow, James Badrock, David Badrock, Nicholas Dre Taylor, Bryson Appleton, Robert Worrall, Connor Martin, Alfie Belcher, Takura Sambizi, Subs: Jack Taylor, Luke Byron (for Belcher 52 mins), Mworina Doro (for Martin 81 mins), Louie Hutchinson, Lucas Bancroft