2 weeks Ago
Heys came into this one all but safe, three points in front of second bottom Colne with a plus thirteen goal difference while the hosts were on a poor run of seven defeats and a draw in the last eight games and hadn't scored a goal since 1st March. The opening exchanges were tight with Heys winger Takura Sambizi first to show on the left, crossing in the eighth minute, but he couldn't find a red shirt to latch on to it. Longridge came close to opening the scoring on nineteen minutes, Matt Van Wyk with a lobbed shot from the edge of the box that hit the bar and bounced to safety.
However, it was the visitors increasing the pressure, mainly midfielder Alfie Belcher, testing Ridge keeper Barry with a shot from outside of the box on twenty-two minutes and again two minutes later with a shot cleared for a corner. Max Bardsley-Rowe was in the action on twenty-seven minutes crossing on the right, but Sambizi could not get on the end of it. Ben Trafford headed wide for the hosts shortly after, but it was who were largely in control.
There came a huge moment in the game on thirty-four minutes with a superb double save from Barry, twice denying Connor Martin, first from a header from six yards and then again at point blank range for the follow up. From the resulting corner the keeper pulled off another save, this time from a header by Alistair Bracken. As the half drew to a close Bardsley-Rowe brought yet another save from Barry firing in from the left as the visitors battled to break this wall of steel in the Longridge goal.
So, it was goalless at the break and as both teams struggled to get a grip in the second half, amidst blustery conditions, the first chance came to the hosts, Liam Atkinson firing over from a Ryan McLean cross on fifty-six minutes. Shortly after Sambizi crossed for Bardsley-Rowe to fire in a shot and bring yet another save from Barry and one started to sense this may not be Heys day as on sixty-one minutes Longridge went in front. As the ball was worked into the box, it was an Atkinson shot that hit the post and as the ball bounced kindly in his direction, he headed in the rebound past Heys keeper Harry Allen to the despair of the large contingent of Heys fans.
Heys made several substitutions and pushed forward and had a great chance on eighty minutes as Connor Martin got clear through the middle, but Barry was on hand again to save his shot from six yards and somehow thwart the Heys striker again on the follow up. Bardsley-Rowe, who had enjoyed a busy afternoon, fired over shortly after and substitute Lee Grimshaw brought another save from Barry from six yards out as Heys continued to press. As the game drew to a close fellow sub-Bryson Appleton saw a cross blocked by the Longridge keeper which proved to be the last action of the day.
So, a frustrating day for Heys, chances were created but Heys could not find a way past the home keeper who was the undoubted star of the day. With Colne winning 2-1 at home to Abbey Hey, it meant Prestwich stayed up only on goal difference finishing. level on points, but the job was done.
At the turn of the year Heys were bottom, eight points behind Colne and ten behind Squires Gate. It has been some achievement by Ryan Hutchinson, his coaching team, players and everyone involved behind the scenes to turn that around and complete the Great Escape, something which the players and fans celebrated together long into the night knowing they will go again in the North West Counties Premier Division next season. TEAM: Harry Allen, David Badrock, Louie Hutchinson, James Badrock, Alistair Bracken, Gabriel Hughes, Max Bardsley-Rowe, Michael Burke (Capt.
), Connor Martin, Alfie Belcher, Takura Sambizi, Subs: Joseph Thompson (for Hutchinson 58 mins), Owen Percival (for Belcher 63 mins), Lee Grimshaw (for Burke 70 mins), Bryson Appleton (for Sambizi 58 mins), Jack Taylor (for Bracken 58 mins).
