Photo by Beth Lee
An Injury time strike from captain Brad Sixsmith proved no more than a consolation as Prestwich Heys slumped to a disappointing 3-1 defeat at the hands of AFC Liverpool at Rossett Park on Saturday.
Heys were looking to finish the first season in the North West Counties league on a high after losing at home to bottom placed side Litherland in the week and got off to the worst possible start here when in the first minute Callum Schorah was brought down in the box by Heys keeper Russ Saunders and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot for a penalty which Anthony Lyons converted to put Liverpool 1-0 up.
Back came Heys with Regan Jarrett looking lively on the left knocking a couple of balls in that AFC keeper Jack Mcgovern collected easily and on 14 minutes Ben Hampson headed over from a corner on the left.
Oumar Camara shot over the bar from 12 yards on 24 minutes but soon after Heys midfield was undone again with the ball given away on the centre circle finding Callum Longworth who broke the offside trap and slotted home bottom right past Saunders for 2-0.
With Heys struggling in the middle of the park worse was to follow on 38 minutes when a cross on the right found the unmarked Jordan Monthe who tapped home from six yards for 3-0 and one sensed this could be a long afternoon for the visitors with mistakes being made all over the pitch.
Jarrett again on the left just before the break saw another cross come over but no one could connect to steer it home and Heys went in for the half time drinks knowing that a huge improvement was to be needed at the restart if Heys were go get anything out of this game.
AFC did have the ball in the net on 50 minutes but Anthony Lyons strike was ruled off side and Heys manager Matt Barnes acted quickly with two substitutions Niall Sultan replacing James Dwyer and Rhain Hellawell replacing Anthony Potts.
This injection of pace did improve things for Prestwich with Jarrett shooting over the bar on the hour and Camara bringing a good save from Mcgovern shortly after and on 70 minutes centre half Josh Dickin also tested the home keeper with a 20-yard strike.
A corner from Sultan on 84 minutes found the head of Camara but the ball went straight into the arms of Mcgovern but Prestwich were rewarded in injury time from a crowded penalty box when captain Brad Sixsmith stabbed home for 3-1 in the last action of the afternoon and completed a spirited second half display but a lacklustre end to the first campaign in the counties top flight.