Heartbreak for Heys as Irlam get late winner.

It was last minute heartbreak for Prestwich Heys as an injury time goal from John Johnston was enough to give Irlam the three points at the Silver Street Stadium on Saturday.

Heys were still looking for their first win in the league win of the season although unbeaten on the road welcomed back midfielders Rob Worrall and Alfie Belcher into the side while Irlam were looking to continue a positive start to the season lying in third place in the league at the start of the day.

The hosts got off to the perfect start in the first minute when a corner on the right caused confusion in the box and Declan Daniels tapped home past Heys keeper Lee White for 1-0 as supporters were still entering the ground.

Prestwich discarded this early setback though and responded quickly with a massive chance to equalise on six minutes, Connor Martin down the left beat the advancing Irlam keeper Jack Buckley and crossed to an unmarked Alfie Belcher in the box but his shot was cleared off the line by the defender to safety.

Heys continued to press and on twelve minutes it was Bryson Appleton down the right again finding Belcher who brought a save from Buckley as the visitors were getting on top in the midfield  battle.

Irlam tried to respond on twenty-seven minutes, Jack Mitchell crossed in a dangerous ball which was cleared by the Heys defence and Daniels headed wide shortly after.

It was the visitors though enjoying the majority of the possession Belcher fired another shot over and had another big chance on thirty eight minutes when great work by Dre Taylor on the right but Takura Sambizi through twelve yards out and his shot brought a great save from Buckley diving to his left to keep the hosts in front.

As the half drew to a close Rob Worrall fired a twenty five yard free kick over the bar and as referee Jamie Tomlinson blew for half time it was Heys looking the more likely to get back into this, than the hosts extending the lead.

It was a nervy first quarter to the second half, Irlam enjoying more of the ball and trying to press but without creating any real chances and it was Appleton for Heys on sixty four minutes in on goal with a lovely first touch however he was unlucky as the ball bobbled with Irlam keeper Buckley out to collect.

Prestwich started to pile on the pressure again, Appleton inventive down the right whipping in a cross that just evaded the head of Martin, but the striker took his chance on seventy minutes the ball finding him twelve yards out on the left and made no mistake firing low to the bottom left past Buckley for a deserved equaliser.

Martin could have had the visitors further in front with a couple of chances just after the goal but keeper Buckley kept him at bay and again got down to an Appleton shot on eighty minutes.

Irlam were trying to find a way back in through winger John Johnston knocking in a couple of crosses that the home attack could not get on the end of but it was Prestwich looking for the winner, Buckley tipping one over from Appleton and Rob Worrall firing a couple of shots over late on.

Referee Tomlinson awarded four minutes of injury time, Heys had a free kick on the edge of the Irlam box but a careless shot was easily cleared down the left on the break and the ball was crossed to Johnston who made no mistake slipping the ball past White to give the hosts the three points in a win that looked unlikely.

So, a frustrating day for Prestwich Heys who deserved something from this game after dominating for long periods, and while plenty of positives on display in this one they will need to improve the finishing in the final third if they are to climb the league table soon, and have an opportunity to do this on Tuesday when they take on West Didsbury and Chorlton at Adie Moran Park ko 745pm