An eighty sixth minute strike by Elliot Taylor secured a bit win for Litherland and ended Prestwich Heys ten match unbeaten league run in a 3-2 win at Litherland Sports Centre on Wednesday night.
Heys were on the end of an eleven-day break from action after Saturday's game at home to Cheadle Town being called off because of the visitors FA Vase commitments while Litherland were looking for a response after a 4-3 defeat at home to Chadderton the previous weekend.
It was the home side straight into the action and caught Prestwich cold in the second minute when a lovely cross from Jordan Monthe found the head of Bobby Grant who headed back across goal beating Heys keeper Jordan Hadlow to put Litherland 1-0 up.
Heys tried to respond Matt Davies on the right having a couple of chances shooting wide shortly after the goal and on twelve minutes whipping a low cross in which no one could get on in end of but it was Litherland who had the upper hand dominating the midfield as the half went on.
The visitors were given a warning sign on fifteen minutes when a dangerous cross from Oli Nugent on the right was cut out by buy Heys defender Jacob Ngoy but a minute later Litherland were 2-0 up when a throw in was only half cleared to Nugent who's twenty yard shot seemed to catch Heys keeper Hadlow off guard and the ball went into the top right.
The hosts continued to press with Heys looking sluggish after the recent break without a game, but battled on with captain Aaron Chalmers firing over the bar from a Connor Berry corner and Davies again down the right firing wide on twenty three minutes.
Back down the other end and a Paddy Kennedy header brought a great save from Heys Hadlow and as the half was drawing to a close it was looking like the home side would be two up until Pa Jenkins found Connor Berry on the left who skipped past the defender and launched a terrific shot from twelve yards that went in off the far post past Litherland keeper Jack Reynolds putting Prestwich back in it at 2-1 and as the whistle blew for half time it was a totally different team talk for Heys management team of Lee O'Brien and James Hampson after being second best for most of the first half.
Litherland were first to show after the break and Nugent almost got his second on fifty minutes, his shot bringing another great save from Hadlow tipping it over the bar.
From here though Heys started to get a foothold on the game pressing hard, Berry shooting wide from twelve yards and the hard work drew them level on sixty five minutes when a trough ball found Greg Daniels who's shot from twelve yards went in off the near post and set up an intriguing last twenty five minutes.
Back came Litherland three minutes later with a twelve yard shot being deflected for a corner and Heys threw striker Jack Coop on clearly sensing they could go for the winner.
Both teams were now going toe to toe, Litherland were looking dangerous from corners while Heys were breaking with pace and looking dangerous and a big moment on eighty five minutes as Connor Berry was brought down in the box it was a big shout for a Heys penalty waved away by the referee and a minute later it was the home side who were back in front a ball over the top found substitute Elliot Taylor running in to shoot bottom right past Hadlow from six yards for 3-2
Heys responded though Daniels firing a free kick over from twenty yards and they had a massive chance to equalise in injury time as a ball in deep found the head of Coop who headed over from six yards bringing the action to a close.
So, Heys unbeaten record comes to an end here at a ground where they always seem to struggle, take nothing away from Litherland who worked hard for this win including a much better first half. Prestwich came back well though and deserved a point on this second half display having turned it around to get back to 2-2 but the hosts fought back for the winner and took the three points.
ReplyForward