Late Taylor strike rescues point for Heys at Barnoldswick Town

It was a frantic finish ending with a goal from Dre Taylor in the fifth minute of injury time  which secured a point for Prestwich Heys in a 2-2 draw at the Silent Night Stadium home of Barnoldswick Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

Both teams were in confident mood after having wins in the FA Vase on Saturday so it was all to play for on this sunny afternoon with Heys still looking for their first win in the league this season

It was the hosts though taking control early on, with Charlie Rowlands-Whiteoak firing over the bar on three minutes and shortly after Heys Jack Taylor went up for a challenge and the game was stopped to give him treatment for a bloodied nose but was fine to continue.

Barlick continued to have the upper hand, Gareth Hill with a couple of runs resulting in corners and Heys made an early substitution on nineteen minutes with Dre Taylor replacing Alfie Belcher.

The hosts took a deserved lead a minute later, Heys giving the ball away six yards out Hill's shot was parried by Heys keeper Lee White but found William Proctor for a tap in for 1-0.

Prestwich were really struggling to get into it at this stage looking very leggy with only winger Bryson Appleton on the right looking lively and knocked in a couple of crosses which were blocked and cleared with little movement from the forward line.

White made another save on thirty eight minutes for the visitors and Rob Worrall fired a free kick over the bar just after and in the closing minute of the half Takura Sambizi did have the ball in the net for Heys but referee Sam Oldfield had already pulled play back for a free kick.

Barlick went in 1-0 at half time and Heys looking weary needed a lot more in the second half if they were to get anything from this one, but history has shown Prestwich have a habit of coming back from losing positions on this ground and needed the same here.

It went from bad to worse shortly after the break for the visitors as a corner on the left from Ethan Gough went straight into the net, Heys keeper White appeared to be pushed over as the ball went in but referee Oldfield allowed the goal to stand and then sin binned the Prestwich keeper for ten minutes when he protested.

Full back Luke Findlow took over in goal for the short duration and this incident being a man down seemed to kick Heys into gear and manager Ryan Hutchinson introduced a couple of substitutes in Joe Camozzi and striker Connor Martin.

Camozzi fired a shot in bringing a save from Barlick keeper Dale Latham, Sambizi on the left beat of couple of challenges but couldn't get a cross in and on seventy three minutes Appleton cut inside and brought another save from Latham.

Heys were piling on the pressure now and it was Appleton again at the heart of it two minutes later shooting from twelve yards, Latham getting down to it again, but the pressure told on seventy seven minutes as Appleton knocks in a peach of a ball on the right to put Connor Martin through and he made no mistake firing low past Latham to pull it back to 2-1, could Heys pull off another comeback here?.

Just as you thought Heys were about to turn this round the hosts responded, Sam Unwin fired one over the bar and then a big chance to win it on eighty five minutes Hill with a free header six yards out but headed straight a keeper Lee White for an easy catch.

The referee awarded five minutes of injury time and just as it looked like it would be a home win, Connor Martin who had been busy since he came off the bench found Dre Taylor running into the box and hit a sweet shot past Latham for a deserved equalizer and to ecstatic scenes from the travelling Heys support.

The visitors almost won it at the death Appleton breaking through on the right but Barlick keeper Lathem beat him to it as the referee blew for full time.

So, it was another great comeback here for Heys on a ground where they never know when they're beaten and today was no different. After a poor first half they showed battling qualities, and additionally quality finishing that has been a struggle in the previous four league games this season.

It is true to say though, they need to get the first league win on the board and the next opportunity will be against Cheadle Town at Adie Moran Park on Saturday 30th August kick off 3pm.