PRESTWICH HEYS 3 CHARNOCK RICHARD 3
TUESDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2025 NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION ATT:200

Report by Stephen Howard
Pictures by Bethany Lee

A breathtaking night of football at Adie Moran Park ended with six goals shared and a point a piece for Prestwich Heys and Charnock Richard.

From the sound of the referee’s whistle at the start of the game and through to its conclusion this game captivated the spectators present. The pace was relentless, there were chances galore amidst, at the other end of the spectrum, great defensive interventions and saves. In truth this game had everything.

The first chance of the game came in the 5th minute when Alfie Belcher and Bryson Appleton combined down the right before the latter provided a cross that Heys debutant and former Charnock striker Louis Holt couldn’t quite connect with.

However, it was the visitors who seized the early initiative to pen Heys back with some fine football. Fenton Davies tested home keeper Lee White with a low shot, and the stopper was in action again in the ninth minute when pushing a free kick from Luke Power to safety.

Charnock’s pressure told in the eleventh minute when the last of three successive corners brought them the lead when from Power’s delivery, James Badrock’s attempted clearance saw him slice the ball into his own net.

Heys continued to live dangerously before Bryson Appleton eased the pressure with a great run that ended with his shot going just wide of the far post.

The near miss sparked Heys into life and moments later, in the 21st minute, they were ahead. Heys won the ball straight back from the goal kick and as the ball was fed into the box by Holt for Takura Sambizi, he let fly with a thunderbolt of a shot that went in off the underside of the bar.

Rob Worrall then went close to a second for Heys before the impetus switched again to the away side. Marcus Haydock went close with a shot that went just over before a scorching run into the box ended with him firing into the side netting.

There was an incredible escape for Heys in the 34th minute when Haydock burst forward again before launching a fierce shot that thudded off the post into the path of Jordan Darr, but with the goal at his mercy, he fired wide.

However, as they had done earlier in the game, Heys responded positively and took the lead in the 40th minute. Breaking forward through Luke Byron & Appleton, the latter cut into the box and fired in a shot that the keeper could only parry and Byron, who had carried on his run, was on hand to slot home the rebound from close range and give his side an interval lead.

The momentum stayed with Heys after the break. Byron and Appleton linked up superbly down the right and when the latter picked out Belcher, his shot on the turn was saved superbly by Ryan Hamer.

There was controversy in the 53rd minute when a poor challenge on Byron left him needing treatment but the incident, to the ire of the home support, was met by only a yellow card.

When play resumed, Holt flashed a header wide for the hosts, but the momentum was to shift again as Charnock seized the initiative. White saved well from Gourley before in the 69th minute they levelled.

The initial threat came from Haydock, as he cut into the box, only for White to drop down and save, but he could only parry and Finlay Stafford, who figured for Heys last season, was quick to react and tuck the ball home from close range.

However, the plot turned again a minute later as Heys regained the lead. There seemed little threat when Holt received the ball way outside the area, but he let fly with an absolute thunder bolt of a shot that beat Hamer all ends up.

Heys looked to wrap things up and went close to a fourth goal in the 75th minute when great play by Worrall played Holt into space but Hamer got down well to save his shot.

It proved another of many pivotal moments in the game as Charnock regained the initiative. A timely interception by Mworina Doro prevented an almost certain goal for the visitors but they were not to be denied and in the 88th minute they equalised.

As Heys were opened up down the left, the ball was played into Nathan Nickeas, who cut into the box before drilling a shot into the bottom corner.

With nerves fraying both teams went toe to toe in search of the winner during eight minutes of added time, but it was not to be. In truth a draw was a fair result, with everyone going home content not least the 200 spectators who watched this football feast.

TEAM: Lee White, Luke Byron, Louie Hutchinson, James Badrock, David Badrock, Joshua Tinker,
Bryson Appleton, Rob Worrall, Louis Holt, Alfie Belcher, Takura Sambizi, Subs: Luke Findlow (for Hutchinson (57 mins), Mworina Doro (for Appleton 72 mins), Nicholas Dre Taylor (for Belcher 72 mins), Lucas Bancroft (for Tinker 90+3mins) Owen Percival (for Holt 89 mins)