Report by Paul Thomason

In a big relegation six-pointer, Prestwich surrendered a two-goal lead to share the points in a game where victory should have been wrapped up much earlier after the visitors equalised with almost the final kick of the game.

Heys started with new signing David Badrock in the backline alongside his brother James whilst Ali Hayder began life as a Prestwich player on the bench.

The home side started lively and had the first real chance of the match on seven minutes when Connor Martin got through on goal. His shot was saved by Jake Hilton but only parried to Alfie Belcher, but he was unable to get any power behind his shot and it went straight into the goalkeepers’ hands.

The game became more even, and Pilkington started to come forward more. Three minutes after the Heys chance, they struggled to clear their lines before a low shot from Andrew Starkey, which was met by Harry Allen, who then parried away a shot by Adam Gilchrist five minutes later.

Pilkington started to grow into the game more and were able to create more half-chances as the game went on. A long-range effort from Morgan Davage was saved by Allen in the twenty-third minute and the Heys keeper had to be aware a few minutes later when Freddy Garbutt sent in a dangerous cross.

In the 39th minute, Belcher broke into the box and was brought down by Wade Rutherford to give Heys the chance to lead from the spot and Max Bardsley-Rowe made no mistake, hitting it to the keepers right, sending him the wrong way.

The penalty seemed to give Prestwich more life as they controlled the remaining five minutes of the first half and had a chance to double their lead as we approached the break as recent signing, Tamura Sambizi ran into the box but put his chance just wide.

As the second half began, it was the away side who nearly scored almost straight away when James Howell shot from just outside the box with the ball going just wide.

On fifty-two minutes came a moment worth the entry fee alone as Takura Sambizi scored his first goal for Heys to double to home teams’ advantage. He ran into the box, twisted and turned around the Pilkington defence, almost turning them inside out! His first shot was blocked but it fell back to him, and he slotted the ball past the keeper. A superb bit of magic from the winger!

Three minutes later, Pilkington came forward and had a chance to score when Freddy Garbutt hit the side netting. The game certainly wasn’t over and the away side made sure of that on the sixty-seventh minute when Heys were caught short, Freddy Garbutt’s effort was punched away by Allen but the ball was met by substitute Nathan Salisbury who put it away to make it squeaky bum time!

Prestwich would get back on top in the match and have a few very good chances to restore the two-goal cushion, firstly Jack Taylor had a chance after Gabriel Hughes broke on seventy minutes and hit his shot just wide. Debutant Ali Hayder, who had come on two minutes before, dribbled past the defence, turning them inside-out and found Connor Martin, but his turning shot from eight yards out was blocked on seventy-seven minutes. The Pilkington captain, Adam Gilchrist was then sin-binned for dissent.

On eighty-one minutes, Pilkington went temporarily down to nine players when their goalkeeper, Jack Hilton was also sin-binned for arguing with the referee.

Prestwich needed to make the most of the two-man advantage and had two very good chances. First Belcher down the right played it inside to Grimshaw who hit it first time from ten yards out, but it went just wide on eighty-eight minutes and a minute later, Belcher shot from outside the area against the temporary keeper but again, it went just wide.

As it seemed Heys would hang on to take all three points, they were caught out at the back again in the third minute of added time as Pilkington, now back up to eleven players, scored when Garbutt’s header found Ryan Beigan who slotted home to send the visitors into raptures.

When Pilkington were two players down, Heys should have put the game to bed but were unable to get that finishing touch for a third. Credit to Pilkington for not giving up but for Prestwich, it ended in a draw that felt like a defeat.

Ali Hayder looks like an exciting signing and Takura Sambizi showed why he was brought in. Prestwich played some very good football, but it ended up as one of those days.

TEAM: Harry Allen, Max Bardsley-Rowe, David Badrock, James Badrock, Jack Taylor, David Edwards, Michael Burke, Luke Byron, Connor Martin, Alfie Belcher, Takura Sambizi Subs: Louie Hutchinson, Ali Hayder (for Burke 75 mins) , Gabriel Hughes (for Edwards 36 mins), Lee Grimshaw (for Martin 84 mins), Bradley J Sullivan (for Bardsley-Rowe (68 mins)