SOUTH LIVERPOOL 0 PRESTWICH HEYS 2
SATURDAY 21ST MARCH 2025 NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION ATT:130

Report by Rick Barrett
Pictures by Bethany Lee

A strike in the seventy ninth minute from Bryson Appleton was enough to secure a 2-0 win for Prestwich Heys against South Liverpool at Jericho Lane on Saturday.

Heys came into this one in fine form after a 2-0 win at home to Irlam in midweek and were looking to make it eight straight league wins, while South Liverpool were looking to get back to winning ways after a 1-1 draw with AFC Liverpool last time out.

Heys manager Ryan Hutchinson made just one change from the Irlam game giving a start to Mo Doro, coming in for the unavailable Takura Sambizi, and it was the visitors first out of the blocks on four minutes, striker Louis Holt hitting the bar with a header though the assistant referee's flag was up for offside.

Back came the hosts on nine minutes, George Murray seeing his shot from twelve yards deflected out for a corner and shortly after Heys were back down the other end, in a goalmouth scramble, ending in a shot from Holt being cleared off the line.

Heys were now pressing forward and the pressure told on nineteen minutes. Winger Bryson Appleton darted down the right and when cutting inside the box he was caught by the defender and referee Isaac Santos-Munn had no hesitation in pointing to the spot for a penalty. Up stepped Holt to fire past home ‘keeper Lucas Allan to put Prestwich 1-0 up.

The visitors continued the half with a controlled display from the back, keeping possession, frustrating South Liverpool to a point where they could not get any time on the ball, leading to a few challenges that the referee would need to keep on top of.

The hosts had a rare chance just before half time when a shot from eight yards, on the left, was saved by Heys keeper Kyle Haslam.

The second half continued very much in the same vein with Prestwich having the majority of possession, but without really creating many chances to speak off but one sensed a second goal would be required to ensure victory here.

Bryson Appleton was looking lively down the right on sixty-three minutes, beating two defenders, but his shot from eight yards was cleared to safety. Shortly after the hosts were forced into a change in goal as Lucas Allan was replaced by the right full back Daniel Maher.

It was South’s who had the first real chance of the half on seventy-four minutes when a cross from the left was met with a glancing header which Heys keeper Haslam was alert to catching at the far post.

Heys sustained pressure told though on seventy-nine minutes as Rob Worrall found Appleton on the right with a great ball, and the winger cut inside and fired into the bottom left past Maher to the joy of the large travelling support.

Prestwich continued to press, Appleton nearly made it three on the stroke of full time, again firing in from the right, but his shot was cleared and soon after the referee blew for full time with the three points going to the visitors.

So, this win continued to break Heys club records in the North West Counties League, making it eight wins in a row whilst having the best defensive record in the division. Whilst not always at their attacking best here it was an impressive, controlled display which the home side had no answer to. On current form this team can only go from strength to strength with a blend of youth, experience and the quality needed to succeed.

TEAM: Kyle Haslam, Reece Lascelles-Higgins, Luke Findlow, James Badrock (Capt.), Matthew Smyth, Nicholas Dre Taylor, Bryson Appleton, Rob Worrall, Louis Holt, Luke Mann, Mworina Doro Subs: Josh Tinker (for Mann 65 mins), Louie Hutchinson (for Doro 84 mins), Lucas Bancroft (for Taylor 90 mins), Kamoy McNair (Appleton 90 mins), Alistair Bracken (for Lascelles- Higgins 90 mins)