The 167 crowd were treated to a match in which no quarter was given or asked. The game was played at an intensity that matched the heat, two teams with hopes of promotion, going at each other for 90 minutes.

The football may not always have been of the purest but in a game of fine margins, the sheer effort and determination to succeed of both teams, gripped the crowd from the start to its nerve-wracking finish.

From a Heys perspective, this was an important result. After the disappointment of defeat in their opening two games, they have now put together a five-game unbeaten run and moved in the promotion places.

It’s still very early days, and the table will chop and change a good few times as the season progresses but, as the League takes a break for the FA Vase, Heys can reflect that in their first seven fixtures they have played six of the current top nine sides in the table with what appear to be key wins over Ashton Town and Shelley, in addition to their success here.

From the outset the tone was set. Both sides were busy, closing quickly with space at a premium. The first opening came Heys way in the 8th minute. Will Shawcross worked a position on the edge of area before firing over.

Liverpool responded, the lively Callum Schorah going on a diagonal run before unleashing a 20-yard shot dealt comfortably with by Russell Saunders.

However, Heys were showing signs of building some momentum. Shelton Payne showed some neat footwork before getting in a shot that was blocked at the near post by AFC ‘keeper David Potter.

In the 18th minute Heys took a lead they were not to relinquish. They built patiently from the back before two pieces of brilliance unlocked the visitors. The first came from Dom Slaven, whose sharp turn created space for him on half way to pick out a super ball inside and behind the Liverpool defence. The pace of Pendlebury gave him the advantage over his chasing marker and the youngster, showed great composure, lifting the ball over the advancing Potter into the far corner of the net.

Liverpool, were stung into action. Schorah got in behind the defence, drawing a save from Saunders, with an angled shot. The Heys keeper, then had to be sharp to drop low to save a header from Jonathan Croasdale.

Heys remained a threat, the pace and energy of Rio Wilson-Heyes, Shawcross and Pendlebury always an outlet. After forcing successive corners, Heys almost increased their lead. A 20-yard shot by Sixsmith was fumbled by Potter and to his relief it trickled past the post.

On the stroke of half time the visitors almost levelled. Jason McGrane burst into the box but in looking to test Saunders at his near post found the side netting.

On the restart it was Heys who looked the more energetic, Wilson-Heyes went on a run, crossed and found Payne who worked an angle for a deft, lifted shot that just cleared the bar.

In the 55th minute Adie Moran Park saw its first ever sin binning as Potter spoke out of turn to a linesman and was dispatched for ten minutes.

In his place, between the sticks, went centre half Mike Jones. He was to prove a more than capable deputy, arguably keeping his team in the match, when within a minute of taking up his position, he dropped superbly, low down to his left, to keep out a Shawcross free-kick that seem destined for the bottom corner.

Heys, seeking to make their one-man advantage count, forced three corners in succession, from the last Adrian Bellamy headed just over.
Then, Shawcross put Wilson-Heyes through but his shot just cleared the bar.

The game hung in the balance, as the clock ticked Heys were unsure whether to stick or twist. The visitors had no choice and so a final quarter of unrelenting tension unfolded.

A Jacob Holt back header fell short allowing Schorah a sight of goal, but he was unable to apply a firm touch, under pressure from Saunders, and the ball drifted wide.

Fifteen minutes to go and from a half-cleared corner, Saunders had to react quickly to keep out an instinctive flick from Schorah.

Despite, this being each team’s second game in three days, both played in hot conditions and their seventh in 23 days, the effort and work rate remained undiminished. Heys, stretching every sinue to defend their lead, Liverpool pressing, probing, looking for a way through.

When Anthony Lyons found an opening with four minutes remaining a goal seemed certain, but the striker pulled his shot across goal.

Whilst one Lyons grimaced, In the home dugout, Heys Manager Jon Lyons, breathed a sigh of relief and his side found the will to hold on for victory.

Team: Russell Saunders, Darius Photiou, Jacob Holt, Dom Slaven (Capt), Adrian Bellamy, Kieron Sherlock, Will Shawcross, Brad Sixsmith, Shelton Payne, Rio Wilson-Heyes, Jordan Pendlebury, Subs : Max White (for Slaven 65 minutes), Jamie Sinnott (for Payne 78mins), Haydn Foulds (for Wilson -Heyes 90 mins), Carl Fitton, Justin Pickering