It was all about the first half at the Haffners Stadium yesterday for Prestwich Heys as an Alfie Belcher strike on the stroke of half time completed a vital 3-1 win in this relegation battle against Colne.
Heys came into this one bottom of the table, knowing defeat would see them six points adrift of the hosts and staring relegation from the North West Counties Premier League in the face, so it was all to play for as the teams took to the field of play.
It was the visitors quickest out of the blocks in the first minute, a Connor Martin shot bringing a great save from Colne keeper Harry Turner, and on eight minutes it was Alfie Belcher bringing another save from the Colne keeper.
Heys continued with the early pressure looking lively and had a great move on thirteen minutes with Belcher down the middle putting Martin through but the ball was a bit to far to latch on to as Turner ran out to collect.
Back came Colne though on eighteen minutes and a free kick on the right from Jordyn Fitton was looped an deep and it was Shakil Ali at the far post with a header beating Heys keeper Harry Allen to put the hosts 1-0 up with their first effort on goal.
Prestwich were not fazed though and hit back four minutes later and after a spell of pressure in the box the ball found Connor Martin six yards out who turned and shot bottom right past Turner for a deserved equaliser.
Heys were now playing with a confidence rarely seen this season, looking hungry for more, winger Takura Sambizi was next to show on thirty two minutes with a cross finding the head of Martin but his effort went over the bar followed by young Bryson Appleton on the right bringing a save from Turner in the Colne goal.
This intense pressure told on thirty nine minutes and it was again the impressive Appleton on the right cutting in ten yards out to fire bottom left to put the visitors in front.
No let up from here from Heys and went 3-1 up on the stroke of half time with a move befitting this dominating first half display starting with David Edwards knocking a peach of a ball over to Appleton on the right, and his cross found Alfie Belcher running in to smash home, to the joy of the large contingent of visiting fans cheering Prestwich on throughout.
So, Heys went into the break 3-1 up but knew they had to concentrate hard in the second half, focus and see this one out which is exactly what they did pressing a high line limiting Colne to scraps which the visitors dealt with easily.
Appleton continued to press down the right firing wide on fifty eight minutes as Heys manager Ryan Hutchinson made several substitutions to steady the ship and in a half of very few chances David Badrock headed over on eighty minutes and it was two minutes from time before Colne had a shot in anger with substitute Alfie Walker firing wide from twelve yards.
Colne tried to press late on but even seven minutes of injury time awarded by the referee could not bring any joy for the hosts as Heys ran out comfortable winners in this one.
So these three vital points went to Prestwich Heys in this really impressive display of attacking threat, along with an all round disciplined focus to see the game out and with four games left to play starting with Ramsbottom United at home next Saturday, they have given themselves a huge chance of staying up and go into that game out of the relegation zone, its all to play for now.
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