Heys sunk by Nelson

Heys were left still looking for their first points of the season after a disappointing defeat to Nelson at Adie Moran Park.

It was a frustrating night for the hosts. There was no lack of endeavour on their part, but it was just one of those nights when it did not happen for them. If there was a misplaced pass, a miskick or a misunderstanding to be had, Heys found it.

That’s not to take anything away from Nelson. Well organised, industrious and lively going forward they were ultimately good value for their win.

There were six changes to the Heys line up, from those that started at Golcar and the early exchanges were promising. They came close to taking the lead in the 12th minute as a raking pass from Danny White (pictured), making his 100th appearance for the club, picked out the run of Jordan Pendlebury. The young winger then moved the ball into the path of Shelton Payne whose angled shot was tipped around the post by Nelson keeper Ben Parkinson.

However, three minutes later Heys were rocked, as with their first real attack of note Nelson forged ahead. From a free kick Jake Lloyd saw a looping header come back of the bar and in the ensuing scramble Mark Ayres was adjudged to have handled. From the resultant spot kick Jack Coop slotted home.

The lead almost proved short lived. From the restart Heys moved the ball quickly with Payne bursting into the box only for Parkinson to smother his shot at close range.

Heys continued to enjoy the greater possession but found openings difficult to come by. Just after the half hour Payne crossed but under pressure Pendlebury’s effort was wide.

Nice build up play between Payne and Pendlebury then created space for Daniel Greene who, alas lifted his shot over the bar.

On the stroke of half time a Pendlebury free kick found Ayres in the box but his header went over.

Nelson came out the livelier at the start of the second period and Daniel Fagan might have increased their lead, but his header skimmed the crossbar.

Pendlebury saw a shot held comfortably but Heys were finding it increasingly difficult to make any headway.

A double substitution on the hour saw Max White and Shelton Payne replaced by Rio Wilson-Heyes and Will Shawcross. However, Heys continued to flounder against a Nelson side growing stronger by the minute.

Coop went close as he got in behind Heys defence and lifted a shot over the advancing Russell Saunders but to Heys relief the cross bar too.

Heys then went close to an equaliser when Brad Sixsmith played a pass into path of advancing Jake Wood whose 25-yard shot whistled just over.

However, in the 70th minute, Heys were left with a mountain to climb as Nelson increased their advantage. The ever-dangerous Coop was the architect with some neat footwork, followed by a clever back heel into the feet of Teal Amos, who delivered a deft shot into bottom corner of the net.

Heys looked to come back but it seemed the harder they tried the more difficult it became, their play becoming more fragmented amidst their increasing frustration.

The visitors might have compounded their misery. Fagan somehow failed to connect with a header at close range before Amos curled a shot wide.

It could not alter the fact that this was Nelson’s night leaving Heys still looking for a spark to jump start their campaign.

TEAM: Russell Saunders, Jake Wood (Captain), Danny Vincent, Max White, Kieron Sherlock, Mark Ayres, Daniel White, Bradley Sixsmith, Shelton Payne, Daniel Greene, Jordan Pendlebury Subs: Adrian Bellamy, Rio Wilson-Heyes (for Payne 60 mins), Jacob Holt, James Wolfenden (for Greene 70 mins), Will Shawcross (for Max White 60 mins)