Camozzi strike earns Heys draw at AFC Liverpool

A goal from full back Joe Camozzi on the stroke of half time was enough to secure a point in a 1-1 draw for Prestwich Heys at a misty Barry Street Garage Stadium home of AFC Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Heys came into this one after back to back defeats by Ramsbottom United in the league welcomed back winger Bryson Appleton from injury, whilst hosts AFC Liverpool were unbeaten in the last three games having drawn 1-1 with South Liverpool last time out edging them out of the bottom two.

The hosts started strongly and were ahead on nine minutes, when a free kick on the left twenty yards out was fired in by Elliott Taylor and his shot crept past Heys keeper Lee White into the far post for 1-0.

AFC dominated the opening twenty minutes as Heys struggled to settle into the game, and their first attempt on goal was on seventeen minutes with a Luke Byron shot easily saved by AFC keeper Ben Barnes.

Slowly but surely though they got a foothold in the game, and Barnes in the Liverpool goal was called upon again on twenty three minutes turning a header over the bar after a Bryson Appleton cross.

Appleton himself fired over the bar ten minutes later as the visitors were enjoying a decent spell in the game, Luke Findlow firing one over the bar and on thirty eight minutes a lovely move through midfield found Appleton who again put Doro through but his shot found the side netting.

Heys pressure told though just before half time, and it was Joe Camozzi with a twenty-yard shot on the right that eluded everyone in the AFC back for and keeper Barnes to nestle inside the near post for a deserved equaliser at 1-1.

All square at the break then and all to play for in the second half, and the hosts fired one over the bar shortly after the re start but both teams seamed to struggle in the early exchanges as the game got scrappy.

Heys best chance of the second half from Appleton shortly before the hour on the right beating his man and firing low from six yards, the ball coming back off the post and safely into the arms of keeper Barnes.

From this point it was AFC who picked up the pace and put serious pressure on Heys, and on seventy three minute keeper Lee white was called upon to save from Paddy Davies.

Liverpool had a huge chance three minutes later when a ball in from the right cut through the Prestwich back four, but somehow flew past the two forwards running in and was finally toe poked wide.

Heys kept battling hard but were careless in possesion at times and struggling to find the final ball through and that key quality pass to test the Liverpool back four.

Another AFC chance on eighty seven minutes was a twelve yard shot from Joel Skillen bringing a terrific save from White as the hosts looked more likely to get the win.

However, this proved to be the final action of the evening and after four minutes of injury time referee Lewis Gerrard blew for full time.

So, a draw it was for Prestwich Heys who were not at their best here but battled really hard throughout to secure a well earned point against a spirited AFC Liverpool side and now have a break from league action as the take on local rivals Irlam in the FA Vase at Adie Moran Park on Saturday ko 3pm.