LONGRIDGE TOWN 1 PRESTWICH HEYS 1

SATURDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2025 NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION ATT: 178

Report by Rick Barrett

A Louis Holt penalty in the thirty second minute meant it was honours even for Prestwich Heys in a 1-1 draw with Longridge Town at Inglewhite Road on Saturday.

Heys came into this one in confident mood after an impressive 3-1 win against Euxton Villa on Tuesday and gave a debut to centre half Matthew Smyth signed from Cheadle Town in the week.

It was almost a dream debut for the new lad when, as early as the first minute, he fired in a shot from six yards which was saved by Longridge keeper Charlie Brier.

It was a tight opening quarter to the game with both sides trying to get the upper hand in midfield, Longridge striker Liam Atkinson was in early action hitting the top of the crossbar on eleven minutes with a fierce shot.

Prestwich responded shortly after with a couple of chances, Bryson Appleton down the right fired over the bar as did Luke Byron after great work by Takura Sambizi on the left.

It was the hosts though who struck first on nineteen minutes and a well worked goal it was, a four man move from left to right and it was Luke Smith, eight yards out, firing past Heys keeper Kyle Haslam for 1-0.

This was the queue for Heys to pick up the pace, and they started to press higher up the pitch. Dre Taylor made a darting run on twenty-three minutes, but his shot was deflected clear, whilst Sambizi and Luke Findlow fired crosses in from the left but could not get a connection.

The pressure told though and Heys were level on thirty-two minutes, Louis Holt, running through the middle, was brought down by Town centre half Toby Coar and referee Abby Dearden had no hesitation pointing to the spot, also giving Coar a yellow card in the process. From the resultant spot kick, Holt dusted himself down to fire home his eleventh goal of the season.

Heys were now in a spell of control, Rob Worrall fired over a free kick on forty-one minutes, and another big talking point came two minutes later when Appleton was clean through and brought down just outside the box. He looked like he was the last man, meaning a potential red card for the hosts, but referee Dearden waved play on.

All square it was at the break, and one felt whilst Prestwich had the better of it either side could potentially take the three points.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first with a cagey opening quarter, and it was Atkinson for the hosts on fifty-eight minutes bringing a save from Haslam, the first real chance of the half.

A great chance for Heys came five minutes later, Rob Worrall with some great work in midfield put Appleton clean through but took an extra touch and saw his shot cleared when it looked like Heys would go in front.

It was a big moment on seventy-two minutes when a bad challenge on Louis Holt saw the referee brandish a second yellow card for Coar and he was sent to the dressing rooms, putting the hosts down to ten men.

Heys piled on the pressure thereafter, Taylor and Byron firing over in quick succession and two minutes from time it was Mo Doro, just on as a substitute firing low and bringing a good save from Brier in the Longridge goal.

Despite the hosts being a man down it was a frantic finish in which either side could have won it. Luke Smith went down the other end and nearly doubled his tally bringing a great save from Haslam in the Heys goal, and as the referee awarded three minutes injury time Heys Luke Findlow charged down the left and launched a shot that cannoned off the near post and cleared to safety in the final drama of the day.

So, it was a share of the points for Heys who will look back at this one as a game they could have won especially with the one-man advantage from midway through the second half and having played some great football in spells. However, this was a good point on the road, and they now visit second bottom City of Liverpool on Tuesday in an attempt to get back to winning ways.

TEAM: Kyle Haslam, Luke Byron, Luke Findlow, Matthew Smyth, Josh Tinker, Nicholas Dre Taylor, Bryson Appleton, Rob Worrall (Capt.), Louis Holt, Luke Mann, Takura Sambizi, Subs: Jace Osborne, Joe Camozzi (for Mann 71 mins), Louie Hutchinson, Kamoy McNair (for Holt 84 mins), Mworina Doro (for Byron 84 mins)