PRESTWICH HEYS 0 RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 3
SATURDAY 1ST NOVEMBER 2025 NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION ATT:275
Report by Paul Thomason

For the second time in four days, Prestwich Heys suffered a 3–0 defeat at the hands of new league leaders Ramsbottom United. Despite matching their opponents for large spells, costly defensive errors proved decisive.

The visitors carved out the game’s first opening inside the opening minute when Matthew Dudley’s strike was spilled by Lee White, though the Heys goalkeeper recovered quickly to smother at the second attempt.

Both sides cancelled each other out in a cagey first 15 minutes before Heys began to grow into the game. Luke Byron and Dre Taylor combined well to set up Louis Holt, who found space on the edge of the area, but he fired just over the bar.

Prestwich’s best chance of the half came on the half-hour mark. Takura Sambizi broke into the box from the left and forced Ramsbottom keeper Bradley Rose into an excellent save, tipping the ball over the bar. Moments later, Holt went close again with a low drive that fizzed just wide.

The hosts kept pushing and threatened again on 41 minutes when Rob Worrall’s free-kick from 20 yards narrowly cleared the crossbar.

At the break, Heys looked the stronger side and the more likely to find the breakthrough, despite few clear chances in a tight contest.

The second half began evenly, and Heys continued to press. On 53 minutes, Dre Taylor surged forward and unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box that just cleared the bar.

However, the game turned on its head shortly after the hour mark. Playing out from the back, Heys were caught in possession, allowing Jacob Holland-Wilkinson to pounce and square for Dudley to slot home the opener.

Just three minutes later, Ramsbottom doubled their advantage when Holland-Wilkinson got in behind the defence and coolly lifted the ball over Lee White to make it 2–0.

Substitute Alfie Belcher, who had replaced the injured Holt earlier in the half, almost pulled one back moments later when he was picked out by Taylor in the box, but Rose once again came to Ramsbottom’s rescue with a smart save.

The visitors sealed the points four minutes from time in controversial fashion. Holland-Wilkinson appeared to be offside when the ball was played through, but play continued, and he made no mistake to complete his brace and a third win in League and Cup over Heys in the space of four weeks.

It was a harsh scoreline on Prestwich, who competed well for much of the game, but they were undone by lapses in concentration against one of the league’s most clinical sides. A tough lesson learned for Ryan Hutchinson’s men, who will know they were far better than the scoreline suggested.

TEAM: Lee White, Joe Camozzi, Luke Findlow, David Badrock, James Badrock, Josh Tinker, Luke Byron, Robert Worrall, Louis Holt, Nicholas Dre Taylor, Takura Sambizi, Subs: Alfie Belcher (for Holt 54 mins), Louie Hutchinson (for D. Badrock 87 mins), Lucas Bancroft (for J. Badrock 76 mins), Jacob Ramplin (for Camozzi 76 mins), David Kerrigan (for Taylor 87 mins)