CHARNOCK RICHARD 1 PRESTWICH HEYS 2

SATURDAY28TH FEBRUARY 2026, NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION, ATT:210

Report by Rick Barrett

A Bryson Appleton strike on fourteen minutes was enough to secure a 2-1 win for Prestwich Heys in a mid-table battle with Charnock Richard at Mossie Park on Saturday.

Heys came into this one fresh, having had no midweek game and only playing seventy minutes at home to Stockport Town last Saturday with the game being abandoned due to rain. Charnock were in confident mood after a 1-0 win at Glossop North End on Tuesday night which put them above Heys on goal difference, so it was all to play for in this one.

The game sprang to action in the second minute when a corner for Prestwich on the right was flicked on and referee Daniel Seddik awarded a penalty for a handball in the area. Up stepped winger Takura Sambizi to convert past Charnock keeper Cameron Graham for his sixteenth goal of the season and put the visitors ahead.

Heys showed no let-up, pressing forward, and on fourteen minutes they increased their lead with a great move starting with Appleton finding Luke Mann on the right whose cross into the box found Appleton again, six yards out, who fired past Graham for to give his side a two-goal lead.

The hosts were on the retreat in the early stages as Prestwich piled forward with pace, Sambizi almost made it three on thirty-four minutes firing a shot from eighteen yards, on the left, just wide of the far post.

Charnock started to get a foot in the game though as the half wore on, captain Ethan Eccleston brought the first save of the day from Heys Kyle Haslam and they were then gifted a goal on forty minutes when Jordan Darr intercepted a back pass from Heys captain James Badrock to slot past Haslam to put the hosts back in it.

In a frantic end to the half, as Prestwich started to look nervy, Heys Josh Tinker was yellow carded for a bad challenge on Nathan Nickeas and Darr could have had the hosts level but fired over the bar as they finished the half much the stronger.

Heys opened the second half the brighter, Louis Holt was first to show on fifty-three minutes firing over the bar from eight yards, and a diving header from Rob Worrall hit the post just before the hour.

Shortly after Appleton missed a great chance to increase Heys lead firing wide after a great through ball from Holt, but Charnock responded with Eccleston, running through, to bring another save from Haslam in the visitor’s goal.

This began a spell of pressure from the hosts, and on seventy-six minutes it was Haslam making a double save, firstly from substitute Luke Power’s shot and then a terrific save from the follow up.

Heys were now looking shaky, conceding possession, but were holding firm at the back whilst still dangerous on the break. Substitute Mo Doro went close on seventy-eight minutes, firing in a shot, from the right, from twelve yards, which was shot cleared off the line to safety.

In a frantic final few minutes, Appleton should have made the points safe for Heys on the stroke of ninety minutes after being put clean through, but his shot was saved easily at the far post by Graham.

Referee Seddik signalled four minutes injury time as Charnock pressed up field and the final action of the day saw a goalmouth scramble in which Haslam parried away James Nolan’s shot into the path of Spencer Bibby, whose shot was deflected wide for a corner.

From the resulting corner a header from former Heys centre half Shay Stansfield was cleared off the line to safety and moments later the referee blew for full time much to the relief of the travelling Heys fans.

So, another good win on the road for Heys. This wasn't always pretty, especially in the second half, but this is a team that never stop fighting, even when on the back foot and always look dangerous going forward. This result takes them above Charnock Richard in the league table to eleventh place putting them in a great position to finish the season in the top ten.

TEAM: Kyle Haslam, Joe Camozzi, Luke Findlow, James Badrock (Capt.), Matt Smyth, Josh Tinker, Bryson Appleton, Rob Worrall, Louis Holt, Luke Mann, Takura Sambizi, Subs:Kamoy McNair (for Holt 91mins), Mworina Doro (for Tinker 59 mins), David Badrock (for Camozzi 59 mins), Louie Hutchinson (for Appleton 93 mins), Lucas Bancroft (for Mann 91 mins)