Tinker strike fires Heys to next round of FA Vase in win at 1874 Northwich

An injury time goal from Josh Tinker was enough to secure a 2-0 win for Prestwich Heys in the first qualifying round of the FA vase at the Creative Hut Stadium home of Midland League side 1874 Northwich on Saturday.

Heys came into this one not having played for eight  days since a 2-0 defeat to Atherton Collieries in the FA Cup, gave a debuts to former Maine Road forward JJ Kirongozi and former Blackpool full back Luke Findlow.

Heys were first to show with Dre Taylor firing over in the second minute as Northwich were having early injury woe with centre half Matt Wooley limping off replaced by Alfie Foy.

Chances were hard to come by with both teams trying to get the upper hand on a very dry and bobbling pitch and it was the visitors getting to grips with it more, new man Kirongozi firing over the bar on thirty one minutes and a great move from Mo Doro shortly after finding Rob Worrall twelve yards out but his shot was blocked.

Mike Hayes did have the ball in the net for Northwich on the stroke of half time but was ruled out for offside bringing an end to an uneventful first half and one sensed if Prestwich could press a little more then this game was more than winnable.

Sure enough refreshingly Heys came flying out of the blocks and were in front almost immediately after the break it was great work by Bryson Appleton finding Doro through the middle and he slid his shot past the advancing Jack Atkinson in the Northwich goal to put the visitors 1-0 in front.

Heys were now in the ascendancy Kirongozi bringing a great save from Atkinson shortly after and Doro should have added to his tally on fifty eight minutes bringing another save from Atkinson after great work by Kirongozi.

It was Heys doing all the running having upped the pace and intensity in this second half with Northwich battling hard but having no real answers, safe to say Prestwich keeper Lee White was having a quiet afternoon indeed it was the eighty first minute before he had his first real save to make from a shot on the left.

Heys manager Ryan Hutchinson freshened things up with some substitutes including Takura Sambizi and Connor Martin who got straight into the action.

Appleton continued to cause issues down the right and on eighty five minutes put a ball across which Martin flicked on to Sambizi but he just couldn't get on the end of it.

Just after Sambizi had a great chance to finish the game in style firing wide from six yards after a great through ball from Appleton.

Heys were not done though and in the first minute of injury time it was another sub Josh Tinker down the right cut inside and fired bottom left past Atkinson to put the icing on the cake for the visitors at 2-0.

So, a good day at the office for Prestwich Heys who were full value for this win against a struggling 1874 Northwich side and it was very encouraging to see a higher level of pace and intensity in the second half. Once the first goal went in they never looked back and are rewarded with a trip to Doncaster City in the next round weekend of 19 September.