Prestwich Heys 0-3 Glossop North End: Night of disappointment for Heys

Whilst the experiment of Friday Night football worked off the pitch, events on it made for a chastening night. Only one point and one place separated the sides at kick off but over the course of the ninety minutes the visitors proved superior in all aspects to record a comfortable victory.

There was an air of anticipation at kick off and it was Heys who were the first to threaten when Adam Dahou broke down the right before seeing his cross take a deflection into the grateful hands of Glossop ‘keeper Charlie Gladwin.

As the game settled it was Glossop who began to show more purpose, a nice run by Tom Lawless in the eleventh minute took him into the box but he pulled his shot wide just wide.

Five minutes later he was to find the net. The visitors opened Heys up down the left and when the ball was pulled back into the six-yard box Lawless was on hand to slide the ball home from close range.

Heys looked to respond in the 24th minute when a great run by Callum Bond, down the right, saw his cross partially cleared but only into the path of the incoming Regan Jarrett who fired an angled shot, from the edge of the area, which whistled past the post.

Although possession was pretty even, it was Glossop whose play carried more conviction and on the half hour they doubled their advantage. It was a poor goal for Heys to concede as a corner again proved their undoing. As the ball was swung into the box it was all too easy for Thomas Reilly as he almost strolled into the six-yard box to score with a free header.

It did spark a response from Heys as they enjoyed a little spell of pressure which saw Adam Hampshire fire one in from twenty yards, that forced Gladwin to drop sharply and punch to safety.

Heys were however, fortunate not to go in further behind at the break as a low cross found Reilly ten yards out, totally unmarked and looking certain to score. However, Heys ‘keeper Louis Hood was alert to dive bravely at the striker’s feet to keep his side in the game.

The feeling was that if Heys could start well and get an early goal back on the restart they may be able to salvage something. Three substitutions in the opening quarter of an hour, which saw Sonny Reeves replaced by Kyle Preece and Jordan Southworth and Dahou make way for Luc Ferry and Dylan Fitzgerald signalled Heys attacking intent.

However, it was not until just after the hour that Heys created anything as the ball broke to      Fitzgerald, in the box, but his sharp shot on the turn was blocked. A couple of corners followed to raise hopes in the Heys choristers but it was to prove only a fleeting moment.

In truth, Heys football lacked purpose and direction and with Glossop happy to sit in and protect their lead, there was little to entertain the crowd.

The night took a further turn for the worse in the 73rd minute when Hampshire was involved in a collision. He was immediately withdrawn with signs of concussion and after the game his symptoms worsened, resulting in an ambulance being called. Happily, after tests he was released home and should be fine after a spell of recuperation.

For Heys there was to be no recovery and in the 90th minute Glossop put the seal on victory with a third goal. From a ball into the box Heys failed to clear their lines and as the ball bobbled about in the six-yard box, Reilly stabbed home his second of the evening.

After the encouraging performance at Burscough, this was a step back for Heys. It was a night when they struggled in all areas of the pitch and with games coming thick and fast, they will have to regroup quickly, if they are to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.

TEAM:  Louis Hood, Callum Bond, Regan Jarrett, Adam Hampshire, Nathan Bartram-Conway, Finley Stanyer, Adam Dahou, Gabriel Mooney-Munoz, Jordan Southworth, Noah Inneh, Sonny Reeves, Subs: Edward Schryburt (for Hampshire 74 mins), Luc Ferry (for Dahou 60 mins) , Kyle Preece (for Reeves 56 mins), Kian Sharples, Dylan Fitzgerald (for Southworth 60 mins)