On an evening when play was delayed for five minutes by an actual Fox invading the pitch, Holt notched his 14th goal of the season to secure the points, in this re-arranged game.

The original fixture was abandoned two weeks ago after 70 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch with Heys leading 1-0 so there was an element of justice in them taking the points here.

They had to do it the hard way however. This was a keenly contested game which in the first half saw both sides cancel each other out with few if any chances created.

Indeed it wasn’t until the 14th minute that an opening came as Heys broke through Rob Worrall, whose through ball was helped on by Holt to release Kamoy McNair. The striker bore down on goal and lifted the ball over the advancing keeper but alas wide of the post.

Stockport responded with a little spell of their own with Tobias Green putting a free kick wide and then George Kattah, the visitors top scorer, found space at the far post but steered the ball across the face of goal.

In the 24th minute came the invading fox, finding many ways to thwart attempts to usher it away. The break in play however did not alter the pattern of play as both sides continued to struggle to stamp any authority on the game.

With no further chances created , Mr Fox proved the main topic of discussion at half time after a largely uninspiring forty five minutes.

The opening minute of the second half offered hope of better things as Heys went close. A nice cross field run by Bryson Appleton saw him pick out Worrall in space but his shot from 20 yards drifted wide.

However, there was a spring in Heys step and their lively start was rewarded in the 52nd minute with a goal. A great first time pass from Worrall released Takura Sambizi down the left and when he picked out Holt, ten yards out, the striker buried his header into the bottom left corner.

The visitors responded well with a decent spell of football. Green saw a header loop onto the roof of the net just after the hour and with still little between the sides you felt Heys needed a second goal.

It looked like they had found that breathing space in the 74th minute when a lightning break saw Holt release Appleton down the left. As the winger cut into the box he crossed low for Mworina Doro whose scuffed shot was cleared off the line.

The opportunity was the spark for a tense and thrilling final quarter of an hour. On 75 minutes Lucas Bancroft fired in a low shot from 25 yards for Heys but the visitors keeper Josh Schofield got down low to save.

Stockport then broke to force a corner from which Heys keeper Kyle Haslam did well, under pressure, to collect at the second attempt.

Moments later, a great run by Appleton saw him drill a low ball across the face of goal but both Holt and Doro were unable to apply the vital touch.

This slow burner of a match was now firmly alight. In the 82nd minute Stockport broke forward and a great shot on the volley from Harley Monaghan brought a superb save from Haslam as he tipped the ball over the bar at full stretch.

Doro then forced a low save from Schofield before the game entered a tense and nervy six minutes of added time.

A last minute free kick threatened Heys but they survived to pick up a hard earned but on balance deserved three points.

Heys remain at Adie Moran Park this weekend as they host Litherland Remyca on Saturday (3pm) before Longridge Town visit next Tuesday night (7.45pm).