Prestwich Heys ended their long wait for a win as they moved into the last sixteen of the Macron Cup with a 1-0 win over Cheadle Heath Nomads at Adie Moran Park on Tuesday night.

It was Heys first outright victory since the 31st August with their only success since then being a penalty shoot out victory over Irlam in the opening round of this competition.

Whilst this match lacked the tension of a shoot out there was no less drama and nerve ends were shredded to the very end before Heys could celebrate.

This was a frantic match that in truth could have finished any score. There were chances galore at both ends but goalkeeping heroics, the woodwork and dogged defence meant Hudson Davies 27th minute strike proved decisive.

After the infux of players in recent weeks Heys had several players cup tied so gave opportunities to several younger players whilst in goal their goalkeeping coach and kitman Dan Wolstenholme put on his gloves again after several years and veteran defender Mark Ayres appeared at centre half.

The game set off at a terrific tempo as both sides looked to gain the initiative but were unable to fashion any clear cut opportunities.

It was Heys who emerged to start setting the tempo forcing a couple of corners and a free kick in a dangerous spot before taking the lead in the 27th minute. As they worked the ball into the box, the visitors were unable to clear their lines and the ball broke to Davies on the edge of the area to rifle the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

The goal prompted a strong response from Nomads and on the half hour Edson Cata tried to catch Wolstenholme out at the foot of the post but the Heys keeper was in the right place to scoop the ball up.

Four minutes later Cata tried again, cutting into the box before, before from twelve yards firing in a shot that Wolstenholme palmed away.

As the game opened up Heys came close to doubling their lead when Michael Burke released Max Bardsley-Rowe into the box but his angled shot was wide of the far post.

Heys were to create a couple of half chances before the break and it was a momentum they carried into the second half with Marcus Perry teeing up Max Bardsley-Rowe but his header from six yards went over.

The visitors went even closer in the 55th minute as they opened Heys up but Alex May saw his header come off the bar.

As the action intensified Burke and Bardsley-Rowe combined again for Heys but the latters shot was deflected wide.

On the hour a great move by Heys saw Burke release Bardsley-Rowe who crossed low across the box to find Perry whose shot rattled the underside of the bar.

As the game became increasingly stretched Cheadle looked set to level things up four minutes later when Williams cut into the box but Wolstenholme stood his ground and saved at point blank range.

Amongst the activity came a poignant moment in the 66th when young Lewis Ayres came on as a substitute for Heys to join his Dad Mark on the pitch.

The change came amidst a raft of substitutions for Heys which included the welcome return after a three month absence for Brad Sullivan.

His early work largely involved helping to repel a Nomads side that was looking increasingly dangerous and Heys survived an incredible scramble in their penalty area in the 75th minute as the ball came off the bar and was then twice cleared off the line.

Having survived that Heys looked to put the game to bed when the younger Ayres picked out Burke but his shot was straight at the keeper.

Two more chances beckoned for Heys as Bardsley-Rowe saw a shot saved and Lewis Ayres fired wide.

In a crazy finale Wolstenholme excelled again with a great close range save to deny May before Heys went down the other end and as Nomads looked to clear, the ball took a rebound and appeared to go over the line but no goal was given.

Heys still had to survive a nervy spell of added time before the whistle sounded and they could finally savour the sweet smell of success.