PRESTWICH HEYS 7 CITY OF LIVERPOOL 0
SATURDAY 14TH MARCH 2026 NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION ATT:226
Report by Paul Thomason

Prestwich Heys cruised to a dominant 7–0 victory over City of Liverpool, with prolific duo Louis Holt and Takura Sambizi each netting twice as Heys extended their winning streak to six matches.

On a bright sunny afternoon, Heys were on the front foot from the opening whistle and tested visiting keeper Hayden Davis inside three minutes. Louis Hutchinson swung in an early corner that met the head of Matt Smyth, but Davis held firm.

The breakthrough arrived in the ninth minute in bizarre fashion. Rob Worrall’s cross caused confusion in the Liverpool back line, and a defender’s attempted chest back to the goalkeeper bounced over the line—an unfortunate moment that summed up the visitors’ difficult season.

Heys continued to dominate possession and doubled their lead after 21 minutes. February Player of the Month Bryson Appleton surged into the box and saw his effort saved, but the rebound fell perfectly for Luke Mann to tap home his first senior goal for Heys.

Six minutes later it was three. Hutchinson delivered a superb cross from the left, which Holt headed on target. Davis saved the initial attempt, but the Heys striker reacted quickest to stab in the rebound.

Just before half-time, Heys nearly added a fourth. Appleton broke forward and picked out Worrall at the back post. With time and space, Worrall struck from close range, only for Davis to somehow deflect the shot wide with an outstretched leg.

Heys had dominated the first half, with the only threat from the visitors coming from a couple of set pieces, and the home side showed no intention of easing up after the interval.

On 52 minutes, Appleton—fresh from winning February’s Goal of the Month—danced past four defenders before aiming for the bottom corner, but his shot was blocked. Moments later, Mann came close to doubling his tally when he cut inside and beat the keeper, only to see his effort roll narrowly wide.

With the direction of play continually towards the visitors’ goal, Holt struck again five minutes later, finishing off a flowing team move. Worrall threaded a pass to Appleton, who drove into the box and squared low for Holt to tap in from close range.

With Tuesday’s big clash against Irlam in mind, Heys made five changes across the next ten minutes—but the goals kept coming. On 78 minutes, James Badrock lifted a ball into the area for Sambizi, who beat two defenders before rifling in from ten yards.

The Heys winger doubled his tally eight minutes later, bursting inside from the left and accelerating past the defence before drilling a low finish into the far corner as the race for Heys’ Golden Boot intensified.

He almost completed his hat-trick in stoppage time after being brought down in the box. Sambizi stepped up, but Davis guessed correctly and pushed the penalty wide.

However, Heys were not to be denied. From the resulting corner, James Badrock rose highest to head home at the far post—his second goal in as many games—and sealed Heys’ second 7–0 win over City of Liverpool this season.

With six straight victories behind them, Prestwich head into a challenging home fixture against play-off hopefuls Irlam full of confidence. This was a professional, ruthless display from a side hitting top form at just the right time.

TEAM: Kyle Haslam, Matthew Smyth, Louie Hutchinson, James Badrock (Capt.), Alistair Bracken, Lucas Bancroft, Bryson Appleton, Rob Worrall , Louis Holt, Luke Mann, Takura Sambizi, Subs: Kamoy McNair (for Holt 69 mins), Josh Tinker (for Mann 69 mins) , Nicholas Dre Taylor (for Worrall 69 mins) , Reece Lascelles-Higgins (for Hutchinson 63 mins), Mworina Doro (for Smyth 63 mins)