Prestwich Heys U21 7-2 Stretford Paddock U21
by Paul Thomason
Picture by Tony Candland

A David Kerrigan hattrick helped the under 21 side to a comfortable opening day victory in the North West U21 Development League Division A.

It didn’t start well for the young Heys as Paddock took an early lead in the fifth minute but an indirect free kick four minutes later after a back pass allowed Alfie Belcher to equalise for the home team.

Heys would go in front on sixteen minutes when the ball came back off the post and fell kindly for Reece Higgins to tap in, however the visitors would level it all up just before halftime as the sides went in level.

It was a dominant second half performance from Prestwich and it only took seven minutes of the restart to restore the lead when Latif Harris stuck from an angle into the top corner.

David Kerrigan scored his first goal of the game on fifty-eight minutes with a powerful shot from eight yards out, giving the goalkeeper no chance before adding his second on seventy-one minutes when a long ball over the top was well controlled by the 17-year-old putting him through and calmly slotting it in.

Alfie Belcher scored his second after being brought down in the box. The penalty decision did look a bit controversial, however, Belcher stood up to take the spot kick and made no mistake to make it 6-2.

Kerrigan completed his hattrick with seven minutes to go when he had a free header from a cross from the right to make it a stunning victory for the new Heys side, winning 7-2.

Heys U21 return to Adie Moran Park next Sunday with the visit of Chadderton with a 2pm kick off.