PRESTWICH HEYS 3 EUXTON VILLA 1
TUESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY 2026 NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION ATT:105
Report by Stephen Howard
Pictures by Bethany Lee
Bryson Appleton struck twice as Prestwich Heys returned to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Euxton Villa on Tuesday night.

After a demanding run of five fixtures against sides in the title and promotion mix that did not bring the returns to match their performances, yielding no wins and only three points, Heys finally got some reward for their efforts with this victory over a plucky Euxton Villa side.

In difficult conditions at a rain lashed Adie Moran Park, Ryan Hutchinson’s side had to dig deep to secure a victory that wasn’t assured until the 93rd minute when Rob Worrall scored Heys third goal.

Overall, Heys deserved their win but there were spells in the game when they were tested by the visitors. Indeed, it was Euxton who started the brighter and Heys keeper Kyle Haslam was called into action in the 5th minute as he punched clear an Alex Colquhoun header from under the bar.

Heys did start to find their feet, their first attack of note saw Appleton shoot straight at the keeper after good work by Luke Byron in the eighth minute.

Two minutes later, they went very close to opening the scoring when from a Worrall corner, Louis Holt’s header came off the post. The duo combined again in the 20th minute with Holt this time flashing a shot wide.

However, the momentum was firmly with Heys now and they took the lead in the 23rd minute. From a Worrall free kick, the ball dropped in the box, twelve yards out, to Dre Taylor who fired low towards the bottom corner. It looked as if his effort was going wide before Appleton popped up to apply the finish at close range.

Euxton responded well and looked set to hit back in the 27th minute with a flowing move, but Ben Pendlebury couldn’t apply the finish, blazing his shot high over the bar.

After their slow start though it was Heys ending the half the stronger with Sambizi seeing a shot pushed to safety by Oliver Lombard.

On the stroke of half time, a great move down the middle from Heys saw Worrall and Findlow link up before the former played in Appleton, but his shot was wide of the far post.

Overall though Heys could reflect on a good half. After an uneasy opening they had largely controlled matters and might have added to their lead. However, it seemed clear that they would need to add to it if they were to secure the points against an Euxton side who had been lively in possession.

Within two minutes of the restart, it looked like Heys might have had that breathing space when Appleton found the net only to find the linesman had flagged for offside.

Holt then twice went close with headers for the home side as they looked for the second goal of the night.

However, it was Euxton who were to provide that goal, as they went up field to force a corner from which they were to level in the 62nd minute. When the ball was swung into the six-yard box, it was Ethan Darr who rose highest to head home.

The goal sparked a good spell for the visitors as Heys struggled to find their rhythm and looked to be losing their way a little. It was Euxton looking the livelier and most likely in a game that in the increasingly heavy conditions was becoming generally untidy.

However, in the 68th minute, out of nothing, Heys got forward to restore their lead. A good advantage was played by the referee, Folu Aladelusi, after a hefty challenge on Mann, saw the ball fall to Sambizi who broke forward to pick out the run of Appleton and the young wide-man did not disappoint as he fired a superb shot into the far left corner, from the edge of the area.

The goal gave fresh impetus to Heys play. Worrall fired a free kick just over whilst Luke Findlow flashed a pile driver of a shot from 30 yards just wide.

Still though, Heys could not shake off the visitors. A couple of corners and a free kick in a dangerous area caused anxiety in the home camp before finally in the third minute of added time the points were secured and in some style.

Some dogged work by debutant substitute Kamoy McNair took him into the penalty box and despite losing his footing he somehow managed to keep possession and find Worrall advancing into the box. The influential midfielder then made a horizontal run towards the centre of goal, before, from more or less the penalty spot, rifling an unstoppable shot into to the top left-hand corner to cap a fine individual performance and clinch a hard earned but deserved victory.

TEAM: Kyle Haslam, Luke Byron, Jace Osborne, Josh Tinker, Luke Findlow, Nicholas Dre Taylor, Bryson Appleton, Robert Worrall, Louis Holt, Luke Mann, Takura Sambizi, Subs: Kamoy McNair (for Mann 70 mins), Louie Hutchinson, Joe Camozzi, Lucas Bancroft (for Appleton 88 mins), Mworina Doro (for Holt, 86 mins)