A Lee Rick penalty just before half time was enough to give Glossop North End a 2-1 win against Prestwich Heys at the Asgard Engineering Stadium on Saturday.
Bottom placed Heys were looking to continue a recent revival having beaten Litherland REMYCA 1-0 last Saturday while the hosts were looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat at Irlam the same day.
Heys manager Ryan Hutchinson also gave a debut start to a new signing winger Takura Sambizi who joined from Irlam earlier in the week.
It was Heys who started the brighter of a tight opening quarter and went ahead on twelve minutes, it was an instant impact from new signing Sambizi crossing from the left and finding Max Bardsley-Rowe who blasted it into the bottom left corner past Glossop keeper Alex Brown to put the visitors 1-0 up.
Prestwich should have been further in front three minutes later, Michael Burkes shot was hastily cleared off the line by the Glossop defence and on eighteen minutes Alfie Belcher drove an eighteen-yard shot wide.
The visitors were in complete control so it was somewhat a surprise on twenty seven minutes when Glossop drew level. Heys conceded possession and it was Keaton Mulvey on the left twenty yards out who launched a terrific shot which flew past Prestwich keeper Harry Allen into the top right corner of the net.
This equaliser seemed to bring the hosts to life and on thirty-one minutes striker Tom Lawless should have had Glossop in front as he fired wide from six yards.
Back came the visitors a minute later and another big chance for Burke as he fired over the bar from twelve yards as they continued to control the possession and forced a couple of corners that came to nothing.
It was the hosts that went into the break in front though as Lawless was brought down in the box on the stroke of half time a penalty was awarded and Lee Rick made no mistake converting the kick past Allen.
So, Heys had it all to do after the break but the opening quarter became scrappy with both sides trying to get the upper hand in midfield, Heys striker Connor Martin replaced Michael Burke and had a big chance on Sixty Seven minutes firing bottom right bringing a save from keeper Brown and again five minutes later firing over the bar from 12 yards.
The visitors were looking the more likely and it was David Edwards turn as his shot from a corner was saved by Brown followed by a big penalty shout on eighty seven minutes when Bardsley-Rowe was brought down but the referee waived appeals away and back came Glossop down the other end Lawless missed a great chance to finish the game putting a header wide.
It was a frantic finish with Heys pressing high even keeper Allen went up for a couple of late corners and Belcher shot over the bar in injury time but it wasn't to be as the referee blew for full time.
A difficult day at the office then for Prestwich Heys in a game they should have got something from but missed chances especially in the first half cost them dear and frustrating as results elsewhere from the teams at the bottom went Heys way. But still many encouraging signs that this new group of players are working hard and with twelve games to go they still have time to escape the drop.
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