A superbly struck 84th minute free kick by Ryley Smith ensured Prestwich Heys promotion push stayed on track with a hard earned victory over Lower Breck at Adie Moran Park.

The young winger, who joined the club in the early autumn, after an interminable wait for international clearance after a spell in America, has gradually eased his way into the Heys starting line up with steadily improving performances and here he well and truly announced his arrival with the decisive strike six minutes from time as Heys came from behind to claim another three points and move up to third in the NW Counties Premier Division table.

This was an afternoon that, save a spell just after half time, Heys largely controlled without ever truly looking convincing, where lots of good approach play floundered on a poor final ball or finish. It was not until the final half hour that they truly found their spark as Matt Davies 62nd minute penalty cancelled out the visitor’s fortuitous opener to spark their charge for victory.

Credit must also go to Lower Breck, they are a dangerous and dogged side to play against, they made things hard for Heys and for a time threatened to seize the initiative but Heys, if not exactly firing, matched their spirit to emerge victors.

The opening exchanges were tepid with possession even but largely in midfield areas as neither side created a chance. It wasn’t until the 16th minute that an opening came, as full back Jacob Ngoy broke into the box before crossing low for Smith at the far post, whose shot was blocked.

Two minutes later, as Heys began to gain the upper hand, Ngoy was to the fore again, this time crossing to pick out debutant Jack McConnell, whose shot was cleared at the foot of the post. A Connor Berry shot then stung the hands of Theo Roberts in the Lower Breck goal.

As the visitors looked to respond Ngoy was at the heart of the action again in the 25th minute with a great covering block to thwart a James Salkeld shot after he had opened space for himself.

On the half hour an injury to the away sides Daniel McKenna saw him have to leave the field and the break in play dimmed Heys momentum. Berry fired a free kick wide, but it was the Merseysiders who were beginning to enjoy the greater possession and on the stroke of half time they took the lead. The visitors worked the ball well cross the field with the ball reaching James Murphy, on the edge of the area, whose shot took a wicked deflection to wrong foot Hadlow and find the net.

Encouraged by their interval lead the away side came out all guns blazing in the second half to take the game to a Heys side who started slowly. Fired up, Lower Breck might have taken the game away from Heys, Salkeld curled one just wide and then Murphy dispossessed Nathan Emery to go clear, a great block by Aaron Chalmers saving the day.

Then a five-minute spell turned matters. First a tackle by Pa Jenkins, which brought him a booking, then a foul on Connor Berry, as he threatened to go clear, saw a yellow for Paul Mooney. The incidents however served to spark a fire in Heys bellies both on the pitch and in the stands.

Suddenly, we had a match and Heys raised their levels and just after the hour they were level as Smith darted into the box, only to be upended, giving the referee an easy penalty call. From the spot kick Davies made no mistake.

With the tempo raised, in the 65th minute, Berry came mightily close to producing a moment of magic. A surging run sent him waltzing in between two defenders before unleashing a shot that took a deflection and alas into the side netting, rather than the top corner.

Lower Breck though hit back and five minutes later it took a great save by Hadlow, low to his left, to keep out an angled Connor McCarty shot.

Momentum though was with Heys with substitutes Brad Sullivan and Rio Wilson-Heyes, making returns from long term injuries, having given them added impetus. The latter almost scored with his first touch with Roberts just doing enough at the foot of the post to keep out his low driven shot.

As the pressure was maintained, Heys found a way through six minutes from time. A free kick 20 yards out just to the left of goal, represented an opportunity for Smith and he did not disappoint. A finely executed shot that kept relatively low but with just a bit of dip, at the last moment and with a slight curl, beat the despairing Roberts at the foot of the post, to find the net to the delight of the home fans.

There was still, with added time, a nervy spell to endure and Murphy missed a glorious chance for the visitors, but Heys were able to see it through and head into the Xmas fixtures on a high.

TEAM: Jordan Hadlow, Jacob Ngoy, Nathan Emery, Pa Jenkins, Nathan Bartram-Conway, Aaron Chalmers (Capt.), Connor Berry, Connor Brotherton, Jack McConell, Matt Davies, Ryley Smith Subs: Regan Brwon, Sam Freakes, Danny White, Rio Wilson-Heyes (for Berry 74 mins), Brad Sullivan (for Emery 60 mins)