By Rick Barrett
A fiftieth minute goal from Josh Westwood was enough for North West Counties Premier League Squires Gate to see off Prestwich Heys in this latest friendly on Saturday .
With no midweek game last week Heys manager Matt Barnes again named a strong side after last Saturday's brave effort in the FA Vase 1st qualifying round away at Penistone Church losing 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Eyebrows were raised pre-match on the Heys team sheet as on the bench saw a new signing with midfielder Jamie Roe recruited from Premier League side Main Road in the week.
Heys came straight out of the blocks in this one pressing hard from the first minute and it didn't take long for Heys striker Jack Coop to get involved firing over the bar in the fourth minute and Jamie Sinnott working hard down the right shortly after put in a lovely cross saved by Squires gate keeper Jordan Gidley.
Heys were looking good and again in the nineteenth minute some great play by Nathan Strong found Will Shawcross down the left who drilled a shot low and hard from eighteen yards which beat the Gate keeper Gidley all ends up but the shot went agonisingly wide of the right hand post.
Back came Squires Gate with two quick chances in succession firing over the bar in the twenty fourth minute and then Heys keeper Russ Saunders called into action two minutes later with an excellent point blank save from twelve yards.
The home side were crawling back into it after Heys great start but on thirty nine minutes a ball in from the right found Jack Coop edge of box who trapped the ball and turned to shoot but just he was about to unleash the Gate centre half nipped in to intercept the ball a great piece of defending.
Dwyer, Emery and Holt all in action for Heys.
So 0-0 at half time was a fair reflection of a spirited first half from both sides but it was the home side who came out faster after the break and a corner on the right in the fiftieth minute a ball floated into the box Heys keeper Saunders came out but could not collect and it was left to Josh Westwood to stab home from close range to give the home side the lead.
At this point Heys manager Matt Barnes decided to maximise playing time of the squad starting to make what would be a total of seven changes in the second half with new signing Roe making his debut and also game time for Niall Sultan, Danny Vinten Aflie Belcher and striker Cory Knight amongst others.
Nathan Emery got into the action in the sixty fifth minute with a low hard free kick with Gate keeper Gidley got down to hold and shortly after it was Alfie Belcher who got in on the act bursting through the middle and firing just over the bar.
Back came Gate hitting the bar in the seventy fifth minute with the game starting to get a little disjointed with all the substitutions but it was Heys who finished the stronger with two late chances and it was striker Jack Coop again involved dragging a shot wide in the eighty sixth minute and then dramatically in the dying embers of the game with a shot saved by Gidley who then seemed to spoon the ball back into a crowded box finding Cory Knight who just couldn't get enough on it to steer home what would have been a deserved late equalizer for the visitors.
So a 1-0 defeat it finished but Heys boss Matt Barnes will be happy with this latest work out and especially the efforts of midfielder James Dwyer and centre half Anthony Potts who were superb, Heys looked well organised on this display, the game was in the balance for long periods and if chances had been converted it could have been a different story.
Heys final friendly will be away to another Premier League side Abbey Hey on Tuesday 29 September KO 8pm and then the 2020-21 campaign finally gets underway on Saturday 3 October away at Daisy Hill KO 3pm.
A fan back four of Tommy Brady my good self Andy Murray and James Murray!
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