A strike on fifty-six minutes from winger Dylan Fitzgerald was enough to secure a hard-fought win for Prestwich Heys against an in form Padiham at the Ruby Civil Arena on Wednesday night.
Heys came into this one at full strength, fresh after a ten-day break having had no fixture last weekend but were caught cold by a fast-starting Padiham as early as the third minute when the ball found forward Joel Brownhill six yards out who blasted a shot past Prestwich keeper Jordan Hadlow to put ‘the storks’ 1-0 up. After struggling with the early frenetic pace, the visitors got back into it with winger Dylan Fitzgerald firing a free kick from the edge of the box straight at Padiham keeper Harry Moss and shortly after striker Matt Davies broke down the right but his shot from twelve yards was also saved comfortably. It was the combination of Davies and Fitzgerald that rewarded Heys on eighteen minutes with Davies on the right squaring the ball for Fitzgerald to fire low past keeper Moss for the equaliser and one sensed Prestwich were getting a foothold on the game.
The midfield was tight with Darcy O’Connor Omar Mbowe, and Vincent Howell all battling hard for Prestwich and winger Max Bardsley-Rowe had a great run down the right on thirty-five minutes but seeing his crosscut out by the Padiham defence.
So, all square at the break and a feeling that despite shading the opening half this one could go either way and it was Padiham who were first to show after the re start with midfielder Joe Melia firing a free kick over the bar from the edge of the box.
Back came Heys through on fifty-six minutes and it was that combination of Davies and Fitzgerald who had been a menace to the home side all night with a carbon copy of the equaliser to put the visitors 2-1 in front Davies on the right who squared it to Fitzgerald to fire home from six yards past Moss to the delight of the visiting support.
Padiham responded quickly though on the hour when winger Jack Price was put through, but he took one touch to many enabling Hadlow to close him down and get the ball out to safety.
It was livewire and man of the match Davies in action again on sixty-eight minutes knocking a lovely ball into the box which Bardsley Rowe agonisingly could not latch on to.
Padiham were trying to fight back but it was Heys continuing to have the better of the chances with substitutes Brad Sixsmith and Rio Clegg, Sixsmith with a header over the bar on 76 minutes and Clegg firing over shortly after.
It was a dramatic finale though as Padiham piled forward and on eighty-seven minutes a corner on the right saw a rasping shot from eight yards brilliantly tipped over the bar by Jordan Hadlow a superb save that finished a great evening for Heys as the referee blew the final whistle shortly after.
Joint manager Lee O’Brien spoke shortly after saying he was determined Heys would finish the season on a strong note and on this evidence you would not back against it as its now three wins in a row as they push forward for a potential top six finish in this 2022-23 season.