Report by Paul Thomason

Prestwich were already a goal down when Edward Schryburt was sent off but FC St Helens took full advantage of the extra player to take all the points from Adie Moran Park.

Heys started the better team and in fact had two early chances, both inside the first five minutes. Clearly there was a gameplan as Finlay Stafford (pictured) was put through twice on the left-hand side, however on each occasion, the St Helens defence were able to deal with it.

The visitors opened the scoring on thirteen minutes, against the run of play, with Connor Spiers placing the ball past Bradley Sullivan after breaking into the penalty area and the visitors could have doubled their lead five minutes later.

Following a good save from Sullivan, the ball broke loose, finding its way to the feet of a St Helens player, but luckily for Heys, the flag went up for offside.

Another counter from St Helens, twenty-two minutes in, was well tackled by Schryburt, unfortunately the referee disagreed and gave him a second yellow card for denying a goal scoring opportunity. It left Heys facing an up-hill task to get back into the game in what seemed to be another case of when you’re near the bottom, nothing goes in your favour.

Up until the red card, Prestwich were still well in the game but the player advantage was enough for the away side to take control of the game.

FC St Helens doubled their lead on thirty-six minutes, a cross from the right-hand side was met with a free header in front of goal by captain Joseph Barker to comfortably head home. The St Helens top scorer would never miss from there.

Prestwich made a good start to the second half and had a couple of chances early on. A free kick on the left was headed towards goal by Finley Stanyer but there wasn’t much power in it and it was straight at the ‘keeper.

Erike Sousa, the hero in the mid-week game, came on for the second half in the hope that Heys could still get something from the game and he was involved in their first real chance of the half as he found Finlay Stafford in the penalty area, but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

FC put the game to bed on fifty-seven minutes. Heys failed to clear their lines from a corner and it was headed in by Barker for his second of the game. There would be no way back for Heys now.

The best chance of the match for the home side came on sixty-seven minutes as Luke Mann played in Fitzgerald who cut inside from the left, before going for a low shot across the ‘keeper, but it was well saved and the St Helens defence cleared.

A low shot from St Helens substitute, Thomas McNamara was well saved from Sullivan, in the Heys goal , two minutes later which had looked like it was going to sneak in at the post.

Prestwich didn’t give up and kept fighting. Regan Jarrett wouldn’t give up on a ball that Joe Mason in the opposition goal would have been favourite for. The Heys man won the race and got a strong touch on the ball, however the ‘keeper got down to make the save and deflected.

Another attack two minutes later found its way to Sousa on the ‘keepers right in the penalty area but his shot was blocked and went for a corner.

The resulting corner was cleared by St Helens who immediately went on the attack. The ball was whipped across goal, Liam Houghton got to it, six yards out, but the ball came off the post.

The positive for Heys was that the players kept fighting despite the disadvantage and didn’t give up. Unfortunately another poor result means Prestwich go further adrift of the teams above them in the League, making safety in the division that bit harder.