Findlow late header gives Heys Macron Cup win at Stockport Town.

It was a dramatic day for Prestwich Heys in Macron Cup first round action, as a ninety fifth minute header from full back Luke Findlow secured a 3-2 win against Stockport Town at Stockport Sports Village on Saturday.

Heys came into this one after a pulsating 3-3 draw at home to Charnock Richard on Tuesday night making it four wins and a draw from their last five outings, whilst Stockport also had an entertaining 3-3 draw at Barnoldswick Town, so the scene was set for an intriguing contest.

The goals started to come early in this one, and it was Prestwich first to show in the eighth minute with a lovely move that started at the back and after a total of twenty one passes, without interception, the ball found Bryson Appleton on the right whose cross was converted at close range by the on running Takura Sambizi, slotting past Stockport keeper Joshua Schofield to put the visitors ahead.

Stockport responded well though and were level just two minutes later when good work by George Kattah, holding up the ball, then found Jack Patterson who lobbed advancing keeper Austyn Hall, and you sensed we could be in for another goal fest in this one.

Sure enough the next action was another goal heading Stockport's way on eighteen minutes, Joshua Fowles, on the left, drilled a shot in which took a large deflection past Hall to put the hosts 2-1 up.

Heys tried to respond, shortly after, with Dre Taylor firing over from twenty yards but the remainder of the half didn't live up to the early promise, as both teams became involved in a midfield scrap with neither keeper tested although an Alfie Belcher corner on thirty seven minutes just evaded the head of James Badrock at the far post.

Stockport went into the break with the lead. The visitors knew they were well in the game but would need to find a bit more quality in the second half if they were to turn this around and progress to the next round.

Heys manager Ryan Hutchinson made one change at the break with midfielder Josh Tinker replacing Alfie Belcher. On the restart, Striker Louis Holt was soon in action calling Town keeper Schofield into action, saving a free kick on forty-seven minutes.

The early part of the second half however, continued in much the same vein as the first with both teams battling for supremacy in the midfield with some rather robust challenges going in from the home side, and referee Lewis Mason needing to make sure it all stayed disciplined.

It was with twenty minutes to go when the tide started to turn, Prestwich pressed a higher line and with Appleton on the right beginning to find openings, he crossed in just missing Sambizi’s touch, before Holt headed wide shortly after.

The pressure told on seventy-five minutes. Heys were now looking really dangerous, and it was great work by Appleton, taking the ball up on the right, after a slide rule pass by Tinker, cutting inside and firing top left past Schofield from eighteen yards to draw the visitors level.

Prestwich were now piling forward looking for the win, Tinker fired wide on eighty-five minutes, then the home defence had to scramble to clear the ball after a crowd scene in the box.

Referee Mason then indicated five minutes of injury time and within moments Appleton teed up Holt for a header, but he glanced it agonisingly wide.

As the clock ticked down it looked like Stockport had weathered the storm and we were heading for penalties, but in the fifth minute of injury time Heys were awarded a free kick on the left, just outside the penalty area. From the kick, Rob Worrall whipped in a cross, to find Findlow, running in at an angle, to head past Schofield to the joy of the large contingent of Heys fans in the crowd.

There was barely time to restart before the referee’s whistle confirmed Heys progress to the second round where they will travel to Ramsbottom United on 11th October.

The win extended their unbeaten run to six matches, and on the evidence this run could go on for a while as they are currently playing with a confidence that they can win football matches from any position, playing a brand of entertaining football that is a joy to watch.

Manager Ryan Hutchinson and his team will be hoping this can continue as they return to league action next Saturday away at second placed Ramsbottom United (3pm).