NEW REGIME OF TO A FLIER AS HEYS SEE OFF STEETON
After two postponed home league games due to a waterlogged pitch in the last seven days, it was finally time for the new regime at Prestwich Heys of manager Matt Barnes and his backroom team to get underway at Cougar Park home of Steeton FC.
Fans traveled to this one with a sense of excitement but also wary of this one being somewhat a journey into the unknown with several new signings in the week and the departure of some familiar names.
So Matt Barnes first team sheet was released with four players making debuts and a welcome return to fans favourite Alfie Belcher returning from his scholarship in the USA until the end of January.
Alfie wasted no time getting straight into the action on just three minutes with a darting run down the right knocking in a dangerous cross to Brad Sixsmith who's close range shot was scrambled clear by Steeton keeper Daniel Thorpe.
Heys were pressing with Joe Rothwell and Brad Sixsmith pulling the strings in the middle with new signing Nathan Emery lively in the early stages. and this pressure gave Heys reward in the 18th minute when forward Reece Lyndon was upended in the penalty box and a spot kick was awarded, Zack Dale making no mistake hitting bottom right to put the visitors in front.
Heys pressed on and Belcher down the left this time knocked a lovely through ball to Dale but his shot went wide left of the post on 24 minutes.
It was at this point Steeton started to get more into the game with Heys starting to get a bit careless and a darting run into the box on 34 minutes saw a superb but vital interception from Sixsmith who managed to clear the ball to safety.
For all Steetons pressing though they failed to seriously test Russ Saunders in the Heys goal and it was the visitors who had the last chance of the half as Zack Dale ran through for a one on one with Steeton keeper Thorpe but the keeper got the better of this one pushing Dale's shot wide of the post.
So after just shading the first half focus was needed for Heys after the break but the visitors endured some nervy moments early on notably the 47th minute when debutante Oliver Hatfield Banton was dispossessed on the edge of to get he box and the Steeton striker dragged his shot wide right when he looked certain to score, a big let off for Heys.The visitors managed to get back on track however and a rasping shot from Belcher 25 yards out on 55 minutes crashed against the crossbar and this was a clue for what was to come.
Heys were well into the stride as the half progressed again getting the upper hand in midfield and it was the engine room that created and scored a lovely second goal as Rothwell picked up the ball from the Steeton half passed to Sixsmith who returned the the ball straight to Rothwell who after continuing his run made no mistake in slotting the ball home past the advancing Daniel Thorpe in the Steeton goal for 2-0 to Heys.
With both teams battling Steeton thought they were back in it on 73 minutes but a header from a corner on the left rattled the Heys crossbar and bounced out finding substitute Jamie Sinnott knocking a beautiful cross field pass from all of 50 yards finding Zack Dale who ran down the flank and crossed to Rio Wilson Heyes also on as a sub who's shot from 6 yards out was somehow saved and cleared by keeper Thorpe.
Back came Steeton and got reward on 77 minutes when a free kick on the right 20 yards out was curled into the top right of the net superbly by Luke Baldwin with Heys keeper Russ Saunders absolutely no chance.
So with 13 minutes left a nervy spell ensued but Heys were confident of seeing the game through and so it proved with 3 minutes to go from another set piece this time going one better. Zack Dale all of 35 yards out on the right launched a screamer of a free kick which rifled in the top left corner of the hapless Daniel Thorpe's goal and was very much deserved after an impressive afternoon from the Heys frontman.
Late drama was to follow a minute from time on the nearside of the pitch as Joe Rothwell who had been superb all afternoon went for a ball with Steetons Ben Clarkson. Without a challenge and the ball running out for a throw in, Clarkson kicked Rothwell in frustration Rothwell retaliated resulting in a mass brawl with all twenty two players involved and took a good few minutes for the referee to get proceedings back under control.
As a result Clarkson was deservedly shown a straight red and Rothwell who had already been booked for an earlier incident was show a red for retaliation.
It was a bizzare incident and uncharacteristic of a game which had by no means been a dirty contest or bad tempered in any way.
So with both teams down to 10 men the final whistle blew and Heys Manager Matt Barnes will be happy to get three points and a win in hist first sole game in charge which saw Heys move from 15th to 9th in this very tight North West Counties league and considering five of the players that started had never before played in a Heys shirt together you cannot underestimate the importance of this win.
