PADIHAM 0 PRESTWICH HEYS 2

SATURDAY 25TH OCTOBER 2025 NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION ATT: 403

Report by Rick Barrett
Pictures by Bethany Lee

A double from in form striker Louis Holt gave Prestwich Heys an impressive 2-0 victory against table topping Padiham at the Ruby Civil Arena on Saturday.

Heys came into this one looking for a response from Tuesday nights disappointing 2-1 defeat at Abbey Hey and with injuries, made three changes with Louie Hutchinson, Mo Doro and Dre Taylor starting, while Padiham were looking for a sixth win in a row in the League having beaten Chadderton 3-2 last time out.

It was the visitors first to show in the second minute when a corner on the right was floated in, finding the head of David Badrock at the far post which Padiham cleared only as far as Takura Sambizi who fired over the bar.

Heys continued to press with Luke Byron bringing a save out of former Heys keeper Brad Sullivan on nine minutes and he was called into action again shortly after, saving a header from Holt.

The 'Storks’ first real threat came on thirteen minutes when the Heys back four struggled to clear their lines and Jacub Hebda fired in a shot from six yards out that brought a great save from Prestwich keeper Lee White.

Heys continued to press and a lovely move on twenty-three minutes started with Rob Worrall finding Mo Doro on the right, who put Holt through, but his shot was wide of the far post.

The half continued with lots of endeavour but few chances as both teams battled it out in midfield with most of the joy for Padiham coming down the left with the impressive Freddie Machell. However, you felt the game was not going to stay goal less for long and so it proved on forty-one minutes when great play by Luke Byron in the middle, who dissected the Padiham midfield to find Holt breaking into the box. The striker made no mistake, with a super angled shot, across Sullivan, into the far corner to put Heys ahead.

Holt was at it again shortly before half time with another ferocious shot on the turn that just cleared the bar as Heys finished the half much the stronger, to a point where they did not want to hear the half time whistle. To the unaware, at this point you, would never have known who the league leaders were and who were the side just below mid table.

Prestwich continued the good work after the interval and went further ahead on fifty-five minutes. From a corner on the right, floated over to the left, Holt rose above everyone from a near impossible angle and headed it back into the far top corner to send the travelling Heys support into dreamland.

Heys showed no let up, confidence now high, keeping it tight at the back and with their midfield pulling all the strings.

On sixty-five minutes, Camozzi found Holt, but his shot was cleared and shortly after Dre Taylor brought a save out of Sullivan who was then tested again from twelve yards by Rob Worrall.

The hosts tried to press, firing over on seventy-five minutes and then a real scramble in the box was somehow cleared to safety by Heys but brought worry when keeper Lee White went down injured, but he was fine after treatment.

The visitors kept the pressure on with the home crowd starting to get frustrated, Sambizi, who had been busy all afternoon, knocked another cross in a minute from time which was cleared.

Padiham desperately threw men forward in the closing stages and deep into six minutes of injury time looked set to score in a goalmouth scramble, but nothing was getting past this Heys back line today as referee Jack Hargreaves blew for full time.

So, a 2-0 win it was for Heys, but this was so much more than an away win, this was a very impressive ninety minute performance from back to front against a strong Padiham side who remain clear at the top of the table, proof now that on the day this team has the ability to beat anyone in this League. They will attempt to keep this going on Tuesday night when they visit second placed Ramsbottom United ko 7.45pm.

TEAM: Lee White, Joseph Camozzi, Louie Hutchinson, James Badrock, David Badrock, Nicholas Dre Taylor, Mworina Doro, Robert Worrall, Louis Holt, Luke Byron, Takura Sambizi, Subs: Joshua Tinker (for Hutchinson 45 mins), Alfie Belcher (for Doro 83 mins), Lucas Bancroft (for Worrall 94 mins) , Jace Osborne (for Camozzi 92 mins), Job Dengoue (for Taylor 87 mins)