BURSCOUGH 1 PRESTWICH HEYS 1

SATURDAY 24TH JANUARY 2026 NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION ATT:181

Report by Rick Barrett

An eightieth minute goal from Burscough's Henry Briscoe denied a battling Prestwich Heys side all three points at The Community Ground on Saturday.

Heys came into this one looking for a response after losing 2-1 to Atherton LR in the week, while Burscough were looking to continue a run of four wins in five games having beaten Charnock Richard 3-1, also on Tuesday night.

Heys manager Ryan Hutchinson made just the one change with fit again full back Luke Findlow replacing Louie Hutchinson and after a quiet opening quarter the game sprung to life on twenty minutes with the visitors taking the lead.

It was brought about by superb work down the right by Bryson Appleton, beating the full back and putting a great ball over, to find Louis Holt, twelve yards out, whose header looped over Burscough keeper Felix Chester and into the bottom right corner of the net.

Burscough responded on thirty-one minutes when a Callum Laird shot brought a great save from Heys keeper Lee White, tipping the ball out for a corner.

Heys were in the ascendancy though and should have been further ahead on thirty-six minutes. It was great link up play again, Appleton through the middle, putting Holt clean through and his shot beat the keeper but agonisingly came back off the near post and cleared to safety.

Prestwich were looking confident at this point against a Burscough side starting the day in fifth place in the table, looking dangerous every time they went forward, especially with the lively Appleton down the right.

The hosts though gave a reminder that they were a threat when Laird had a shot on the stroke of half time that was saved well by White in the Heys goal.

The second half started in a similar vein to the first with both sides trying to get the upper hand.

However, the game was stopped in the fifty fifth minute when Prestwich defender Alistair Bracken went down with what looked like a twisted ankle and he was replaced by Jace Osborne.

Takura Sambizi had a header saved by Burscough keeper Chester on sixty-three minutes, though referee Callum Hayes had blown for a foul, and the home keeper was called upon again, a minute later, saving a Louis Holt header from a Luke Findlow cross. The latter himself then saw a free kick saved by Chester in the seventieth minute.

Up to this point Heys were looking comfortable, but Burscough suddenly found some pace and urgency, pressing higher with winger Christian Mukoku looking dangerous down the right. Heys keeper White made a couple of great saves, one from a header from six yards out, and then on eighty minutes he tipped a shot around the post for a corner.

It was from this corner that Burscough drew level. As the ball was swung deep, Heys failed to clear and Henry Briscoe stabbed the ball home at the far post.

There was more threat from the home side on eighty-four minutes, when a free kick on the left from twenty yards clipped the top of the cross bar.

Heys replaced Josh Tinker with forward Alfie Belcher as they looked to try for a winner, but it was the hosts looking more likely in the closing stages.

Five minutes of injury time couldn't separate the teams and referee Hayes blew for full time to end this intriguing contest.

So, a hard-earned point for Heys against a Burscough side going well in this season’s league campaign sitting in a play-off place. Heys now move on to next Saturday when they visit league leaders Wythenshawe and if they keep the spirit up shown here today, they will look for another positive result.

TEAM: Lee White, Luke Byron, Luke Findlow, James Badrock (Capt.), Alistair Bracken, Josh Tinker, Bryson Appleton, Rob Worrall, Louis Holt, Nicholas Dre Taylor, Takura Sambizi, Subs: Luke Mann, Louie Hutchinson, Jace Osborne (for Bracken 57 mins), Alfie Belcher (for Tinker 85 mins), Lucas Bancroft