A 6th minute strike from Joe Rothwell was enough for Prestwich Heys to see of North West Counties Premier League leaders Macclesfield FC in an action-packed game at Adie Moran Park on Monday in front of a bumper bank holiday crowd.
Heys had gone over two weeks without a fixture after the Christmas schedule was cancelled because of a combination of Covid and bad weather and so came into this one fresh and raring to go with manager Matt Barnes including new signing, striker Lee Knight who joined from 1874 Northwich on New Year's Eve.
Prestwich were straight into the action from the first minute taking command in midfield with Brad Sixsmith and Corey Kelly commanding and showing signs that the visitors would be in for a tough afternoon and so it proved as early as the 6th minute when Regan Jarrett charged down the left knocking in a deep cross which eluded Greg Daniels but in ran right back Joe Rothwell who struck from 12 yards to the bottom left of Macc keeper Sam Ashton's goal to the roar of the home crowd.
Heys intensity continued a couple of minutes later when Daniels was brought down in the box but the referee waved play on and this ignited the visitors into a spell of play with Brandon Lee looking lively in the 14th minute with a dazzling run into the box but the Heys defence cleared and had keeper Russ Saunders behind them in confident mood.
Rothwell was in action again on 18 minutes with a great pass to the in form Jarrett but saw his shot go over the bar and this was soon followed by Rothwell himself on 26 minutes with a low drive bringing a great save from Sam Ashton.
Back came Macclesfield on the half hour with Saunders tipping a free kick over the bar from James Berry-Mcnally and saving again from Aaron Dwyer shortly after as the frantic tempo continued until the break with both teams contributing to a great first half.
The visitors were quickly out of the blocks in the second half and in a bizarre moment on 53 minutes when a shot goalward bound was cleared off the line by a Macclesfield player and out for a corner to the dismay of the away support.
This was a big alert to the home side who came back strongly and should have increased the lead shortly after when a cross/shot by Sixsmith on the right went agonisingly past debutant Lee Knight who just couldn't stretch far enough to tap home from close range.
Heys continued to press with Greg Daniels getting more and more into the game with the Macc defence struggling to cope with the tenacious forward and another big chance came on 65 minutes with Corey Kelly who was dangerous all afternoon fired just wide of Ashton's post.
Daniels was dangerous again on 75 minutes knocking a great ball over for substitute Lee Grimshaw who had come on for Knight but the linesman agonisingly flagged.
The final quarter saw Macclesfield increase the pressure and on 76 minutes had the ball in the net as Berry-Mcnally's shot found the head of Tom Clare who found the bottom left corner only for the referee to rule offside and this was to be a key moment in the game.
Heys midfielder Sam Dickinson replaced striker Jack Coop as Heys manager Matt Barnes decided on extra strength in the middle to see out the game and Dickinson did not disappoint with a couple of superb tackles in the closing stages.
Frustrations from the visitors boiled over with 10 minutes to go with Macclesfield's Berry -Mcnally sin binned for dissent leaving them down to ten men and this proved to be the final action as Prestwich held firm to the final whistle inflicting Macclesfield to only a third defeat of the season, while Heys left to a standing ovation from an ecstatic crowd.
Heys Manager Matt Barnes expressed his pride in the team after the game as he should do, this was a hard fought fully deserved win and a vital three points as Prestwich Heys look to continue the second half of the season in confident style. Photos by Beth Lee with Thanks
