PRESTWICH HEYS 1 FC St. HELENS 0
SATURDAY 28TH MARCH 2026 NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION ATT:276

Report by Paul Thomason
Pictures by Bethany Lee

Prestwich Heys made it nine wins in a row after overcoming a good FC St Helens team in a bitterly cold, strong wind at Adie Moran Park as James Badrock scored his third goal in five games, right before half time, to seal a priceless victory.

FC St Helens came into this one just two points behind Heys in the league with a game in hand and were looking to overtake their hosts as they chase a play-off place for themselves in what was their final away game of the season with their remaining six fixtures all being at home.

Before the game began, there was rain, hailstone and a strong wind, but two of those three cleared up in time for kick off. The elements probably played a part with both sides struggling to get a foothold in the game with no clear-cut chances for the vast majority of the first half as both teams cancelled each other out.

In fact, the first real chance of the game didn’t come until the forty-third minute when some good work by Takura Sambizi found room for Reece Higgins to deliver a cross to the near post for Louis Holt who got a foot on to the ball, but it went just wide.

That chance breathed some life into Heys and as the half drew to a close, they came forward more. Luke Findlow made a fantastic run from midfield into the box, but he couldn’t get enough on his shot which comfortably rolled into the arms of Joe Mason in the FC St Helens goal.

However, this late first half pressure paid off for Prestwich as the clocked ticked to forty-five minutes when a deep cross from Rob Worrall to the far post, perfectly found the head of James Badrock who headed it down to the near post to open the scoring, resulting in the home fans doing ‘the Badrock’ with the Heys captain joining in too!

It almost wasn’t the end of it as right before the half time whistle, Louis Holt seized on a stray pass to get in on goal. He rounded the keeper, but the angle was too tight, allowing his attempt at goal to be cleared away by the FC St Helens defence.

It was a half of very few chances but the late pressure by Prestwich meant they just about deserved the lead at the break.

The second half was much more open, and it was the home side who created the first chance two minutes in. Josh Tinker found Bryson Appleton who made a brilliant run into the box, he then found Dre Taylor in some space, who struck it low from the edge of the area, but the keeper was equal to it to push it away.

It felt like Heys had started the second half the way they had finished the first and they created another chance just six minutes later when a strong run into the box by Taylor saw him try to return the favour for Appleton, setting him up for a shot that went over the bar.

FC St Helens would always be a threat and had a chance three minutes later when a cross to the far post was headed over the bar by Michael Ibeto.

As the game continued, it felt like a second goal was needed and Louis Holt had the best chance of the game when he went clean through the middle, but he pulled his shot just wide of the keepers right.

Both teams continued to cancel each other out as the second half progressed with no clear cut chances until just three minutes from time when St. Helens substitute Chris Hill ran into the box then struck with a powerful effort, forcing Kyle Haslam to leap and get a strong hand to it to somehow keep it out. Certainly, a contender for save of the season!

Prestwich would hang on to complete another victory and a fifth successive clean sheet. In a very tight game, Heys just about deserved the win to open up a gap with the teams below them in the table to five points and maintain the gap to the play off places to six as they prepare for a trip to the Isle of Man for their next fixture, next Saturday.

TEAM: Kyle Haslam, Reece Lascelles-Higgins, Luke Findlow, James Badrock (Capt.), Matthew Smyth, Josh Tinker, Bryson Appleton, Rob Worrall, Louis Holt, Nicholas Dre Taylor, Takura Sambizi, Subs: Luke Mann (for Tinker 70 mins), David Badrock (for Higgins 45 mins), Alistair Bracken, Lucas Bancroft (for Appleton 90+2), Louie Hutchinson