PRESTWICH HEYS 4 AFC LIVERPOOL 0
THURSDAY 16TH APRIL 2026 NW COUNTIES PREMIER DVISION ATT:190

Report by Paul Thomason
Pictures by Bethany Lee

Two quick-fire goals on the stroke of half time proved pivotal as Heys returned to winning ways, as they defeated AFC Liverpool, to put the disappointment of last weekend’s defeat behind them and secure seventh place in the league, equalling the clubs best ever finish.

AFC Liverpool came into this game on a run of nine straight victories and were looking to equal Heys’ recent run of ten, at Adie Moran Park, but this being their sixth game in fourteen days, it was always going to catch up with them and Prestwich took full advantage.

It took Heys just ten minutes to break the deadlock when Takura Sambizi played in Luke Findlow who ran inside from the left, into the box, before striking to the far side, into the bottom corner.

The home side were completely on top and controlled proceedings in the early stages of the game and on sixteen minutes they came close to number two when Sambizi ran in from the left but his shot from the corner of the six-yard box went over the bar.

The visitors struggled to create anything meaningful. On twenty-four minutes a corner was flicked on at the near post but there was no one there to meet it and three minutes later another chance was comfortably dealt with by the Heys defence.

Prestwich’s early dominance seemed to fade however, and the game became a battle in the middle of the park but on forty-five minutes that changed. A free kick on the left from Rob Worrall swung outwards to the far post, allowed an unmarked James Badrock to head home, scoring his fourth goal in eight games.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that was it for the first half, but Heys came forward again, winning a corner which fell for Badrock who found Alistair Bracken, with some space, who fired it in for number three. A memorable moment for the young centre back, scoring his first senior goal for Prestwich.

It could have easily been four before the break when Dre Taylor went through on goal, rounding the keeper to the left of the goal but as he went to tap the ball into an empty net, Nathan Giblin was able to get back and clear it off the line.

The two goals right on half time ended any realistic hope for the ‘non-league Reds’ to win their tenth straight game and it couldn’t have ended any better for the home side as the whistle blew for the break.

After half time, it took Heys just two minutes to add to their lead, this time Bryson Appleton ran in from the left and cut into the box before shooting from twelve yards out, into the far corner, making the scoreline even more comfortable. A superb goal from the young winger.

As the game continued, there were chances for both teams with Heys newly crowned goalkeeper of the month, Kyle Haslam, making some superb saves. From an AFC Liverpool freekick, on the hour mark, from around twenty-five yards out, Elliot Taylor went low with his shot, which Haslam blocked and then he gathered the ball before any attacking players could get to it.

Seven minutes later, substitute Kamoy McNair should have made it five for Heys. Bryson Appleton ran into the box from right, found McNair in space with his back to goal, six yards out, who turned and shot, but the goalkeeper managed to block it.

The visitors didn’t want to leave empty handed and forced Haslam into another great save, this time a shot from distance on seventy-two minutes by Joel Skillen resulted into a fingertip save, as the keeper looked determined to get his tenth clean sheet in a Prestwich shirt.

With fifteen minutes to go, Appleton, looking for his second of the game, got through and struck on his left foot, sending it just over the bar and a minute later, McNair had the ball in the net, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

AFC Liverpool then went up the other end, forcing Haslam into another great save, the ball landing to a Liverpool player whose shot was brilliantly cleared off the line by Bracken. Heys were putting bodies on the line to ensure they kept this clean sheet and a minute from time, Cameron Rooney came close for the away side but again, Haslam was equal to the shot.

It was just the result Prestwich needed after the heavy defeat at Didsbury last weekend. This has been a memorable season as the curtain draws at Adie Moran Park with Heys just a single point off their best ever season total at this level and with every chance to break that record when they travel to Cheadle Town on Saturday.

TEAM: Kyle Haslam, Reece Lascelles-Higgins, Luke Findlow, James Badrock (Capt.), Alistair Bracken, Nicholas Dre Taylor, Bryson Appleton, Rob Worrall, Luke Mann, Luke Byron, Takura Sambizi. Subs: Joshua Tinker (for Lascelles-Higgins 40 mins), Louie Hutchinson (for F, David Kerrigan (for Worrall 79 mins), Lucas Bancroft (for Taylor 55 mins), Kamoy McNair (for Mann 65 mins)