Heys bow out of the FA Cup

Report by Rick Barrett

A four-goal frenzy in the last twelve minutes, that included a hat-trick for striker Scott Allison, completed a miserable day for ten-man Prestwich Heys against Northern Premier League side Workington Town as they crashed to a 6-0 defeat in the first qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup at Borough Park on Saturday.

Heys were looking to bounce back from a 2-0 midweek league defeat at AFC Liverpool and this was always going to be a tough ask against a Workington side two leagues higher in the pyramid as they welcomed back Kyle Jacobs, Vincent Howell, Greg Daniels and Isaac Lee into the starting line-up.

It was the home side who came quickly out of the blocks and were ahead in the fifth minute, the ball coming across to Lewis Reilly who shot past Heys keeper Jordan Hadlow from six yards with the Prestwich back four stood looking for offside. However, the linesman's flag was never raised, and the goal stood.

Back came Prestwich on nineteen minutes, Kayle Power having a shot saved by Workington keeper Jim Atkinson who then parried away the follow up shot from Greg Daniels.

Disaster was to follow a minute later for Heys as a ball over the top found Allison who was brought down by Heys defender Regan Brown just outside the box but, as he was the last man, the referee showed no hesitation in showing a straight red card to Brown and he was off and the visitors were down to ten men with only twenty minutes played.

Worse was to follow on twenty-seven minutes when David Symington was brought down in the box and it was Reilly again to convert the penalty past Hadlow for his and Workington's second of the afternoon and the Heys contingent in the crowd knew it would be a long way back from here.

Heys managers Lee O'Brien and James Hampson responded by replacing Vinny Howell with fit again Kai Haigh in the middle and the visitors responded well for the remainder of the half with a decent spell of pressure, despite being a man down, with Jack Coop and Power both going close before Workington had the last say bringing a great save from Hadlow from twelve yards.

The hosts came out quicker again in the second half and it was another terrific save from Hadlow on forty-seven minutes, diving to his left from a shot from eight yards.

Prestwich kept plugging away though and were very unlucky on fifty-eight minutes when Matt Davies shot bounced of the far post and Power’s free kick from twenty yards went over the bar shortly after.

Tyler James replaced Jack Coop to inject some extra pace to the play and Kaiden Barlow came on for Daniels and for a twenty-minute spell the visitors were keeping Workington at arm’s length until a goal in the seventy seventh minute changed all that with Allison converting after Hadlow had parried a shot. This was to spark a four-goal spree in the remaining twelve minutes.

Keelan Leslie was next in on the act two minutes later latching on to a ball played down the middle and he shot past Hadlow after his initial shot was saved. Then on eighty-two minutes Allison bagged his second and Workington's fifth with another ball through the middle, slipping the ball past Hadlow from six yards and at this point Prestwich had simply run out of steam.

Power did hit the bar for Heys and Davies’ follow up was saved by Workington keeper Atkinson before Allison got his hat-trick and completed a tough day for Heys two minutes from time, latching on to a ball from the left, giving him a tap in from three yards in the final action of the day.

So, an exhausted Heys side bowed out, ending this year’s FA Cup journey and although the 6-0 scoreline was harsh on the visitors Workington fully deserved this win and its them who progress to the Second Qualifying Round.

TEAM: Jordan Hadlow, Kayle Power, Kyle Jacobs (Capt.), Darcy O’Connor, Isaac Lee, Regan Brown, Greg Daniels, Vincent Howell, Jack Coop, Matt Davies, Saidkhon Khamidov. Substitutes – Kaiden Barlow) for Daniels 60 mins), Kai Haigh (for Howell 30 mins), Tyler James (for Coop 55 mins) Brad Sixsmith, Luke Nicholls, Nathan Bartram-Conway, Malachi Slaven.

Rick Barrrett has his own Heys blog, "View from a Sandgate Bridge" which can be found here :- https://rickbarrett753.wixsite.com/website-2