Prestwich Heys pre season continued on Saturday and it was full on with two games to whet the appetite.
Joint Managers Lee O'Brien and James Hampson currently have a squad of thirty players which include a number of trialists and the aim is to get this down to around 22 players for the start of the new season and these games were arranged to assist in this with the first one against Manchester League side Hindsford and the second one saw North West Counties side Atherton LR visit Adie Moran Park.
So, it was an early start at midday for the first kick off against Hindsford and familiar faces from last season included goalkeeper Russ Saunders defenders Regan Brown and Omar Mbowe forwards Tyler James, Dylan Fitzgerald and Greg Daniels while on the bench we saw Bailey Dawes and Kyle Whittaker.
It was the visitors who started the brighter keeping Russ Saunders busy in the Prestwich goal but on thirty-five minutes a ball over from the right found the trialist three yards out for a tap in to put Heys one up.
As the summer rain hammered down the second half saw the introduction of two products of our former youth team in Bailey Dawes and Kyle Whittaker of who the latter had a busy 45 minutes as Heys pressed forward and orchestrated a lovely move on seventy-two minutes in a one-two with a trialist who shot just over the bar but it was the quality moment of the game.
Hindsford were always a threat though and deservedly drew level on eighty-six minutes when a ball over the left was connected past Saunders into the net.
Prestwich rallied late on bringing three quality saves from the Hindsford keeper but it was to remain all square at the final whistle.
So that was part one finished and great to see Greg Daniels and Bailey Dawes getting minutes after returning from serious long-term injury as they get ready for the new season.
Time for the fans to get refreshments and at 3pm we went again with the visit of Atherton LR against a more experienced Heys line with keeper Jordan Hadlow, defenders Jacob Ngoy, Nathan Emery and captain Aaron Chalmers, midfielder Kyle Jacobs and the returning Jack Coop and Rio Clegg up front along with four trialists.
The home side were quickly out of the blocks with Emery very lively down the left and his good work was rewarded as early as the eleventh minute when his cross found Jack Coop twelve yards out on the right who took a touch and buried his chance bottom left past the Atherton keeper. It was a goal just like so many he scored in his previous spell at Heys and like he'd never been away, the fans loved it.
Heys were well on top with young youth product Rio Clegg looking lively until the thirty-eight minute when a collision with the Atherton keeper saw him badly limping off with what we now know to be a broken foot, we wish him a speedy recovery.
Prestwich were one up at the break and Atherton came out at the re start battling in a half of few chances as changes were made by both sides although Coop and Greg Daniels on as a sub both went close but as the game drew to a close it was the visitors who were looking the more likely. Hadlow made a terrific save from a twenty-yard free kick and were rewarded on eighty-two minutes when another free kick took a wicked deflection and sped past Hadlow into the net for the equaliser.
Atherton had a chance to then win it at the death with Hadlow making a point blank save from six yards to ensure the game finished 1-1.
So, it was another good work out for this group of players as decisions will be made over the coming weeks on what the final squad will be come the opening day of the season and pre season continues on Tuesday night with the visit of Counties Division One side Nelson visiting Adie Moran Park KO 745pm.