A 84th minute penalty from Prestwich Heys striker Jack Coop was enough to secure victory in a 2-1 win at North East Counties Premier League side Silsden at Keighley Road
on Saturday.
As pre season properly got underway for the first team this game was eagerly anticipated against the Cobbydalers from Yorkshire and would prove to be a stern test and work out to improve fitness levels.
Heys Manager Matt Barnes named a strong side that included a couple of trialists and after a tight early exchange Heys sprung into life in the 15th minute when good work by Anthony Hall on the right found Jack Coop who's cross headed towards midfielder Sam Dickinson who's attempted back flick couldn't steer the ball home.
Silsden were first to strike in the 25th minute when a cross from the right found Craig Billington who slotted a header bottom left from twelve yards past Heys keeper Russ Saunders putting the home side in front.
The hosts continued to press hitting the bar shortly after and were the better side in the first half although Anthony Hall did have a shot over the bar and Heys winger Niall Sultan was unlucky dragging a shot wide right on 35 minutes.
So 1-0 at the break and some half time substitutions from Matt Barnes included star winger Jamie Hill who was continuing his comeback to the first team from a serious injury and Ollie Scott who has been recruited from the under 18's side who was catching the eye. Heys keeper Russ Saunders was called into action early on saving a free kick and diving to his right shortly after to keep the home side at bay, but this second half was a much more confident display from Heys not least from Hill down the left leaving the Silsden full back way behind on a couple of occasions before testing the home keeper with a shot on 70 minutes and firing over the bar shortly after.
The visitors were pressing hard finding the groove and Jack Coop was through on goal after great work by Ollie Scott but the Silsden keeper did well to close down the angle but joy then came on 78 minutes when Coop found Anthony Hall on the right who made no mistake cutting inside and firing bottom left from twelve yards to make the scores level at 1-1.
From here on it was all Heys using the width of Sultan and Hill to great effect and supported by a midfield that were pressing up more as the game went on and it was no surprise when they took the lead on 84 minutes when Jack Coop was upended just inside the box and the referee after a discussion with the linesman pointed to the penalty spot and he duly slotted home the penalty to put Prestwich 2-1 up to the delight of the travelling support and from here saw the game out for a moral boosting early pre season win.
Manager Matt Barnes will be happy with this display especially the second half when Heys were already looking sharp having been back in training a couple of weeks and were showing the grit and determination needed if they are to survive at Premier League level in the coming season and will go into next weekends friendly against Glossop North End in confident mood.