88th minute strike by Lee Grimshaw sealed a dramatic late win for Prestwich Heys in a tough encounter with Burscough at the Burscough FC Stadium on Saturday.
Photo by Beth Lee
Heys were looking to bounce back from a disappointing 4-2 defeat to Longridge Town the previous week came into this one fresh not having had a midweek fixture and this was evident in a confident start from the kick off taking the game to the home side.
The first big chance for the visitors was on 13 minutes Jack Coop on the left giving the ball to Ric Seear who's shot brought a brilliant save from Burscough keeper Jack Reynolds .
It was Prestwich keeper Tom Simpson springing into action on 21 minutes saving six yards out as the home side tried to get a foot in the game as the conditions started to deteriorate with strong winds and driving rain making it difficult for both sides and Heys were set back on 23 minutes when tenacious midfielder Sam Dickinson had to go off injured and was replaced by Oscar Campbell.
Heys pressed on and were rewarded on 37 minutes when a great through ball from wing back Nathan Emery found striker Coop who slotted past Reynolds from 12 yards to put the visitors in front.
Further drama just before the break as the home side put a free kick over the bar and then it was Ric Seear for Prestwich at the heart of it again missing a chance after a great through ball by wing back Joe Rothwell.
On the stroke of half time the Burscough number seven Christopher Lomax was sent to the sin bin for something he said to the referee and the visitors went in 1-0 up.
Photo by Beth Lee
So, into the second half it was and with the wind now swirling in the rain conditions were very difficult with chances few and far between until the 58th minute when Heys midfielder Campbell shot over the bar from 20 yards as Heys continued to look the stronger and more organised of the two sides.
It was Campbell again on 65 minutes dragging a shot wide left and back came Burscough a couple of minutes later a glancing header just going over the bar from a free kick on the left.
Heys Greg Daniels was next to show who was lively throughout the game spraying a ball over the Seear who shot wide from close range and one sensed the visitors would go further ahead.
All the remaining drama fell into an action packed last 10 minutes when Jack Coop thought he had put Heys 2-0 up with an unbelievable 20-yard strike into the top left of the net with Reynolds beaten all ends up only for the linesman to controversially flag for offside and to follow Burscough ran up the other end of the pitch on 83 minutes with Sam Illesanmi slotting home from 12 yards to put the home side level.
Arguments rose from the Heys players regarding the previous offside decision and Greg Daniels over stepped the mark being sent to the sin bin for words said to the referee.
Heys piled forward with substitute Lee Grimshaw at the heart of it and made a devastating impact on 88 minutes with a ball in from the left and from the edge of the box drove a shot bottom right past Reynolds to send the vociferous Heys contingent in the crowd wild.
Jack Coop broke through just after to try and further the lead but shot wide when Greg Daniels who had returned to the field was in acres of space on the right but relief came as the referee blew the whistle shortly after to complete an impressive win against a team who had started the day in 5th place in the league table and as the players came over to take the applause from the Heys support at the end, you could clearly see how delighted manager Matt Barnes was in this hard fought victory that could be vital come the end of the season.
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