Report by Rick Barrett

It was a dramatic finish to a full bloodied encounter at Mossie Park on Tuesday night as winger Erike Sousa came off the bench to score a ninetieth minute equaliser for Prestwich Heys in a pulsating 2-2 draw with Charnock Richard.

Both teams came into this one on a run of poor form, Heys having lost the last nine in the league with the hosts Charnock fairing little better with just one win in the last nine so with both teams looking to improve it was all to play for.

Charnock flew out of the blocks with strikers Nathan Nickeas and Louis Holt both bringing saves from Heys keeper Bradley Sullivan and were ahead on nine minutes when a cross on the left saw Holt rise above everyone to head home from close range for 1-0.

This early goal sprung the visitors into action though, Dylan Fitzgerald firing over the bar and Heys were level on seventeen minutes when after being awarded a controversial throw in by referee Chris Willan the ball fell to recent loan signing Luke Mann who made no mistake firing bottom left past Charnock keeper Ryan Hamer for the equaliser.

Prestwich showed no let up with Finlay Stafford firing at keeper Hamer shortly after and Fitzgerald brought Hamer into action again with a terrific save on twenty six minutes from a free kick from twenty yards, diving to his right.

Sammy Immesoudine was next to show with great work on the left beating the Charnock full back but his shot flew into the side netting.

The visitors were on top so it came as a surprise on thirty-nine minutes when a throw in on the left for Charnock went down the line finding Nickeas who turned the Heys centre back and slotted bottom right for 2-1.

The referee had to stop proceedings shortly after for an injury to Heys Immesoudine who was replaced by Jordan Southworth and as the half drew to a close both teams had chances as Heys saw a shot by Shay Stansfield come off the post and former Heys man Matty Davies whipped in a cross on the right that Ashley Young headed wide.

So 2-1 to Charnock at the break after an entertaining first half that Heys had the better off but as often seen this season, the opponents being more clinical.

The second half started in a similar vein to the first with Charnock attacking notably Matty Davies knocking two crosses in on the right that no one could connect with and on fifty six minutes Nickeas had a great chance to increase the lead but fired wide.

Heys were trying to create with midfielder Gabriel Mooney-Munoz at the heart of everything they were doing but were struggling to supply the front line. Fitzgerald fired over on the hour before Davies nearly put Charnock further in front on seventy six minutes bringing a save from Sullivan.

Heys managers Matty Russell and Russ Saunders made some attacking changes in the closing stages of the game bringing on Erike Sousa and Sonny Reeves, increasing the pace of the visitors attack and it had an immediate effect a, great move found the head of Fitzgerald, bringing a save from keeper Hamer.

Down the other end captain Shay Stansfield did brilliantly to block Davies when he was put clean through and one sensed we were in for an exciting finish. Reeves then hit a terrific shot on eighty seven minutes for Heys which was deflected out for a corner.

Heys kept the pressure on and were rewarded in the final minute, Charnock players were all shouting for a handball on the right, which didn't come and the ball fell to super sub Sousa who lashed a shot from twelve yards past Hamer to make it 2-2 to the joy of the sizeable travelling Heys support.

Back came Charnock in injury time with Prestwich managing to clear a goalmouth scramble before the ball was cleared to Reeves on the left,who showed terrific pace, but a chance for a late winner was missed as he agonisingly shot wide of the near post and this was the final action of the evening as the ref blew for full time.

So it was a share of the points which was probably a fair result, Heys put an end to that nine game losing streak and whilst still much work to be done they will be encouraged by this result as they look to push out of the relegation zone to safety.

TEAM: Bradley A Sullivan, Finley Stanyer, Regan Jarrett, Edward Schryburt, Kian Sharples, Shay Stansfield, Finlay Stafford, Gabriel Mooney-Munoz, Sammy Imessaoudene, Dylan Fitzgerald, Luke Mann, Subs: Adam Dahou, Adam Hampshire (for Fitzgerald 92 mins) , Erike Sousa (for Stafford 78 mins), Sonny Reeves (for Sharples 73 mins), Jordan Southworth (for Imessaoudene 45 mins)