Heys 'Holt' league leaders Padiham in shock win

A double from in form striker Louis Holt was enough to give Prestwich Heys an impressive 2-0 victory against table topping Padiham at the Ruby Civil Arena on Saturday.

Heys came into this one looking for a response from Tuesday nights disappointing 2-1 defeat at Abbey Hey and made three changes with Louie Hutchinson, Mo Doro and Dre Taylor all getting starts, while Padiham were  looking for a sixth win in a row in the league having beaten Chadderton 3-2 last time out.

It was the visitors first to show in the second minute when a corner on the right was floated in finding the head of David Badrock at the far post which Padiham cleared only as far as Takura Sambizi who fired over the bar.

Heys continued to press with Luke Byron bringing a save out of former Heys keeper Brad Sullivan on nine minutes and was called into action again shortly after saving a header from Louis Holt.

Back came the 'storks' though on thirteen minutes though when the Heys back four struggled to clear their lines and Jacub Hebda brough a great save from keeper Lee White in the Prestwich goal from six yards out.

Heys continued to press and a lovely move on twenty three minutes started with Rob Worrall who found Mo Doro on the right to put Holt through but his shot was wide of the far post.

The half continued with lots of endeavour but few chances as both teams battled it out in midfield with most of the joy for Padiham coming down the left with the impressive Freddie Machell, but you felt the game was not going to stay goal less for long and so it proved on forty one minutes when great play by Luke Byron in the middle dispossessing the Padiham midfield and found Holt six yards out who made no mistake firing past Sullivan to put the visitors 1-0 up.

Holt was at it again shortly before half time with another effort fired over the bar as Heys finished the half much the stronger, to a point where they did not want to see the half time whistle, and to the unaware at this point you would never have known who were the league leaders and who were the side just below mid table.

It was Prestwich though who carried  on the good work after the interval, and were further ahead on fifty five minutes a corner on the right was floated over to the left and it was Holt who rose above everyone from a near impossible angle and headed it back into the far post past Sullivan to send the travelling Heys support into dreamland going 2-0 ahead.

Heys showed no let up, confidence now high, keeping it tight at the back and the midfield pulling all the strings on sixty five minutes Camozzi finding Holt but shot was cleared and shortly after Dre Taylor brought a save out of Sullivan and again from Rob Worrall from twelve yards.

The hosts tried to press firing over on seventy five minutes and Heys had a slight worry when keeper Lee White went down injured but was fine after treatment.

The visitors kept the pressure on with the home crowd starting to get frustrated, Sambizi who had been busy all afternoon knocked another cross in a minute from time which was cleared.

Padiham desperately threw men forward deep in injury time and had a goalmouth scramble but nothing was getting past this Heys back line today as referee Jack Hargreaves blew for full time.  

So, a 2-0 win it was for Prestwich Heys, but this was so much more than an away win, this was a very impressive ninety minute performance against a strong Padiham side who are clear at the top of the table, and proof now that on the day this team has the ability to beat anyone in this league, they will attempt to keep this going on Tuesday night when they visit second placed Ramsbottom United  ko 745pm.