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Writer's picturerickbarrett180675

Heys put Barnoldswick to bed in kingsize comeback at Silent Night Stadium

A goal from Ashton Campbell in the ninety third minute completed an amazing turnaround for Prestwich Heys in a 5-3 victory against Barnoldswick Town after being 3-0 down at half time at the Silent Night Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday.

Heys came into this one fresh not having had a game on the Saturday due to a bye in the FA Vase while the hosts were victorious with a 1-0 away win at Blyth in the same competition but it was the home side who looked like it was themselves who'd had the break dominating the first half. After an early chance with a free kick over the bar Barnoldswick were soon in front in the fourteenth minute when a cross over from the left found Andrew Hill who drove a low shot past Heys keeper Russell Saunders from eighteen yards .Back came Heys on twenty minutes a ball was played through to Callum Nicholas who played to the whistle when the home defence were all looking for offside but his shot from twelve yards went agonisingly past Town keeper Jordan Gidley's left hand post. This was as good as it got for Heys in the first half as Barnoldswick hit back with two goals in seven minutes the first was Gareth Hill on twenty-three minutes who scored at the second attempt on a rebound after Saunders had parried his first shot and the home side were 3-0 up on thirty-three minutes when a free kick from full back Alex Ralph on the right eluded everyone looping over Saunders and nestling into the bottom left of the goal. It was no more than Barnoldswick deserved and especially Ralph who terrorised the Heys back four all half with his pace and penetrating runs, the visitors had no answers to the questions being asked by this well organised side and when the referee blew the half time whistle one sensed this could be a very long afternoon for Prestwich.

So after some very strong words from Heys management team Lee O'Brien and James Hampson at the break two substitutions were made for the visitors with forwards Tyler James and Kaiden Barlow replacing Callum Nicholas and Dylan Fitzgerald. Almost from the kick off Barlow was in the action being brought down in the box, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Connor Berry converted for 3-1 . Barlow was in the thick of it now shooting just wide on eighteen minutes and just five minutes later it was 3-2 as he crossed from the right to find Darcy O'Connor who drove a shot from eighteen yards that flew past Gidley into the net and the Heys contingent in the crowd were starting to believe, as the two substitutes had injected a lot of pace that the home side were struggling to cope with. Barlow again fired one over the bar on sixty-five minutes and then it was James's turn a minute later bringing a save from keeper Gidley. Then on seventy minutes the unthinkable at half time was staring to become a reality as a great through ball found Barlow who saw his opportunity with the keeper advancing and slotted the ball past him from eighteen yards and as he wheeled away in delight to celebrate with his team mates you were starting to think Prestwich could actually turn this around as it was now Barnoldswick who had no answer and were starting to tire, not helped by star performer Alex Ralph being substituted. Back they came though hitting the stanchion of the post two minutes later and in a now frantic contest on seventy-four minutes both teams were down to ten men, a melee ensued after a challenge from Heys Connor Berry which saw Town's Louis Jeanne also carded for retaliation. Another substitution for Heys saw newcomer striker Ashton Campbell enter the fray on seventy-seven minutes followed by a terrific save by Heys keeper Saunders diving to his left from twelve yards tipping round for a corner. This was to be a pivotal moment in the game as just a couple of minutes later a corner on the left was flicked on to find Tyler James who blasted home from six yards out to send the visiting fans wild and put Heys 4-3 up.

Prestwich did not stop at that and in the dying embers put the icing on the cake with substitute Campbell firing in the fifth and completing an astonishing come back in a game that looked long gone at the break and they must take inspiration for the rest of the season because with self-belief like this and a willingness to work to the end you just never know what the rest of the 2022-23 campaign will hold.

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