PILKINGTON 0 PRESTWICH HEYS 1

WEDNESDAY 14TH JANUARY 2026 NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION ATT:102

Report by Rick Barrett
Photos by Bethany Lee

A goal in the ninth minute from striker Louis Holt secured another away win for Prestwich Heys at the PSD Stadium, home of Pilkington on Wednesday night.

Heys were playing their first game since a 2-1 derby win at Chadderton on Boxing Day whilst Pilkington were looking for a response having lost to Burscough 6-2 at home the following week.

The visitors wasted no time in getting into the action, enjoying the better of the opening exchanges and they went ahead from a corner on the right, floated in by Rob Worrall, finding Holt, who rose above the defenders, six yards out, to head home at the far post past Pilkington keeper Harry Campell.

The game continued, progressing into an intense midfield battle. Josh Tinker fired one wide for Heys from twelve yards on twenty minutes and Holt should have doubled the lead a minute later glancing a header wide from close range.

Pilkington responded a couple of minutes later with Jack Pearce firing in a shot, bringing a good save from Heys keeper Lee White as he turned it around the post for a corner.

The game at this point was end to end and on thirty-two minutes it was lovely work down the left by Takura Sambizi, knocking in a great cross to Dre Taylor three yards out, but his header went straight into the arms of Campbell.

Back came the hosts two minutes later, following great work down the left, White kept out a shot that rebounded to Kyle Robinson Murray who fired over the bar from six yards. This was a warning to Heys as shortly after White made another save but spilled the ball in the process. However, he tracked back just in time as the ball looked set to trickle over the line.

Prestwich had the final chance of the half, Sambizi firing one in from twenty-five yards which went agonisingly wide of the far post.

The visitors went in at half time a goal up but knowing they were being pushed by a Pilkington side who had been in a run of poor form of late and they would have to battle hard if they wanted the three points.

Heys manager Ryan Hutchinson made a couple of changes at the break, Bryson Appleton replacing Alfie Carmichael and Joe Camozzi came on for Luke Byron.

It was a scrappy opening quarter with Pilkington enjoying the better of the midfield battle and they were unlucky not to be level on sixty-three minutes when Tom Patrick fired over from six yards.

As the half continued Heys slowly got back in control with substitute Appleton at the heart of it down the right, Rob Worrall fired one in on sixty-eight minutes which keeper Campbell could only parry, but no Heys player was following up.

Luke Findlow made an impressive run shortly after, but his shot was blocked, and then Appleton breezed through the defence on the right, crossing for Holt, whose shot brought a save from Campbell in the Pilkington goal.

It was lovely work again from Appleton down the right on seventy-seven minutes, again finding Holt, six yards out, who with his back to goal tried an overhead kick that went over the bar.

The visitors were finishing very strongly, Appleton, Camozzi and Holt all having shots late on, but they had to stay alert as Pilkington fired one in at the near post on eighty-four minutes that was deflected wide.

Referee Chris Cooper-Tongue awarded three minutes injury time, but Heys held possession and the last chance came their way as Luke Mann fired over on the stroke of full time.

So, a big win for Heys who were pushed all the way by a determined Pilkington side. The three points lifted them in the top half of the table for the first time this season, on the back of five wins in the last six league games and they will go into Saturday’s game with Atherton LR full of confidence that this run can continue.

Team: Lee White, Luke Byron, Luke Findlow, James Badrock, David Badrock, Josh Tinker, Nicholas Dre Taylor, Rob Worrall, Louis Holt, Alfie Carmichael, Takura Sambizi Subs: Joseph Camozzi (for Byron 45 mins), Alistair Bracken (for Sambizi 87 mins), Louie Hutchinson, Luke Mann (for Tinker 69 mins), Bryson Appleton (for Carmichael 45 mins)