Magic of the FA Cup for Prestwich Heys in shock win at Wythenshawe Town

A Max Bardsley-Rowe strike eleven minutes from time completed a shock result in the FA Cup extra preliminary round, as North West Counties Premier League side Prestwich Heys beat Northern Premier League Division One West side Wythenshawe Town 4-2 at Ericstan Park on Saturday.

Heys were looking for a response after a battling  2-0 defeat to Padiham in the week while Wythenshawe were playing their first competitive fixture of the season and do not start their league campaign until next weekend.

It was a tight opening quarter with both teams trying to get a grip of the midfield, and the hosts went a goal up on twenty one minutes with their first opportunity as Heys keeper Mason Walker rushed out of his area on the right and the eagle eyed Wealth Da Silva lobbed the ball over him and into an empty net.

Back came Heys though James Badrock fired a free kick over a couple of minutes later and Josh Tinker firing wide of the far post after good work by wide man Bryson Appleton as they looked to find a way back into the game.

It was Appleton starting to make in roads for the fightback but joy came in the forty second minute when referee Robert Slinger awarded a penalty to the visitors for hand ball, up stepped full back Luke Byron but the spot kick was saved by Town keeper Aidan McKerney diving to his left.

So despite being the better side Prestwich trailed at the break but knew with a bit more clinical finishing they could get back into this and that's exactly what they did in the form of striker Michael Burke who got the ball on the right just a couple of minutes after the re start and fired home top left from eight yards for a deserved equaliser.

The visitors continued to press with some lovely free flowing football with midfielder Rob Worrall and Josh Tinker pulling all the strings and Appleton causing havoc with the Wythenshawe back four and it was no surprise on sixty three minutes when winger Takura Sambizi who also signed a contract with the club after the game, put Heys in front with a terrific strike bottom right past Mckerney after a great through ball from Worrall. 

Appleton it was again on seventy three minutes down the right his cross just evading the on running Dre Taylor and young Bryson was given a standing ovation by the large contingent of travelling support when replaced by Max Bardsley-Rowe on seventy six minutes.

Back came Town though in controversial circumstances a minute later, Dylan Woods smashed the ball past Walker but the linesman's flag was up, referee Slinger over ruled it and the goal stood for 2-2.

It was a short lived reprieve for the hosts though as back came Heys from the kick off driving through the middle and the ball found Josh Tinker who's shot from twelve yards gave Mckerney no chance and put Prestwich 3-2 up.

Heys continued to press and it was no shock when they scored another on eighty one minutes sub Max Bardsley-Rowe took a touch on the right and smashed it past Mckerney for  4-2 and Max nearly had another goal just after dragging a shot wide.

Wythenshawe tried to respond but Prestwich held firm as the referee blew the whistle ending this impressive display from a spirited Heys side against opponents from the league above and go through to the first Preliminary round where they will play Atherton Collieries on the weekend of 15-17 August.