Prestwich Heys unbeaten run of 14 home League games came to an end on Saturday as they were beaten 3-4 by FC Isle of Man in a thrilling contest at Adie Moran Park.

In a frantic game, marked by great goals, feisty tackles and fluctuating emotions, Heys paid the price for a lacklustre first half showing that saw them trail three-one at the interval. When the visitors then scored shortly after the break it looked like it could prove an embarrassing afternoon for the hosts but two goals in three minutes set up a thrilling finale. In the end the home side came up short and it was the Ravens who took the points as they recorded their first win over Heys.

The tone for the afternoon was set from the start, as in only the second minute Isle of Man took the lead. A ball played down the middle of the park found a huge gap in Heys defences leaving Michael Williams in a race to the ball with Heys ‘keeper Russ Saunders. It was the former that got there first to nick the ball over the stopper into the far corner.

Heys almost responded immediately as Matt Davies got in behind the defence but his chip over the Raven’s ‘keeper Ben Wilkinson cleared the bar. The latter was again called into action in the fourth minute as he scrambled to keep out a Pa Jenkins shot.

As the play continued at breakneck speed, Saunders was next to save in the eighth minute as he dropped low to keep out a Charlie Higgins shot before, a minute later, Wilkinson produced a super save at close range from a Davies shot following great work by Heys debutant Craig Hobson.

In the 16th minute though Hobson was to bring Heys level. A great break by Rio Wilson-Heyes down the right saw him deliver a peach of a cross to the far post where the striker rose to pick his spot, heading back across the keeper into the bottom corner.

After a frenetic opening there came something of a lull as if both sides were taking a chance to catch their breath. It didn’t last long, however. In the 27th minute came a great save by Saunders as a corner broke on the edge of the area to Stephen Whitley whose shot, through a crowded goalmouth, was tipped over. It sparked a concerted spell from the visitors and on the half hour they regained the lead. From a corner, a real scramble ensued with Saunders saving, a follow up shot being blocked before Williams fired home his second of the afternoon.

A minute later Williams might have had his hat-trick as he broke into the box, but Saunders was alert again to push his shot to safety.

Dan Silver-Adigun eased some of the pressure for Heys with a good break down the right in the 35th minute before picking out Wilson-Heyes who tried an overhead kick that was deflected wide but it was a brief respite for the home side with their opponents looking the stronger and more dangerous every time they attacked. A minute before half time they increased their lead. A fine free kick by Jack McVey was met with a deft header from Whitley to find the bottom corner.

The half time break saw Heys make three changes as Ryley Smith, Brad Sullivan and Nathan Emery were brought on in a bid to revive their team’s fortunes but before any of them had chance to break sweat the away fans were cheering again as Isle of Man added a fourth. A strong run from the left by Stephen Doyle stretched the home defence and when he rolled the ball out to the right, he found Whitley, with oceans of space, in which to pick his spot and fire low past Saunders for his teams fourth goal.

Heys’ keeper was to deny Whitley his treble in the 53rd minute, making a fine one on one save as the afternoon threatened to get very messy for the home side. However, a minute after they were thrown a lifeline. As Heys probed for an opening, a shot was blocked by an outstretched hand, leading to a penalty from which Davies slotted home.

A change in the atmosphere and a lift to the spirits brought a renewed vigour to Heys play and in the 57th minute they pulled another goal back. As the away side looked to clear their lines the ball broke some 25 yards out to Sullivan who, with no hesitation, shot hard and low into the bottom corner.

Gabriel Mooney-Munoz was brought on for Heys moments later as they went in search of the equaliser, and he was soon in the action as he drilled a ball into Davies whose first time shot just cleared the bar.

In a fever pitched atmosphere Heys swept forward and in the 67th minute a scramble in the box saw a Sullivan shot blocked on the line and then an almighty scramble ensued as Aaron Chalmers attempted to fire home the follow up with the Heys man and three visiting defenders all ending up in a heap sparking a melee that ended with a card for Heys and two for the Isle of Man.

The break in play dimmed Heys momentum a little, whilst giving the visitors time to regroup and although the home side continued to press and there were numerous scrambles in the penalty box, the final vital touch increasingly came from the away side to clear their lines.

Heys camped in the opposition half but still that final pass, that one little bounce of the ball in the box, they so desperately sought would not come. Deep into seven minutes of added time though came that chance, as the ball was whipped into the box, but Sullivan’s glancing header agonisingly crept past the post and with it the last hope of completing the comeback.

TEAM: Russell Saunders, Dan Silver-Adigun, Sam Olawumi, Pa Jenkins, Craig Hobson, Aaron Chalmers (Capt.), Danny White, Connor Brotherton, Rio Wilson-Heyes, Matt Davies, Saidkhon Khamidov Subs; Nathan Emery (for Khamidov 45 mins), Gabriel Mooney-Munoz (for Wilson-Heyes 55 mins), Ryley Smith (for Silver Adigun 45 mins) Brad Sullivan (for White 45 mins)