Heys end 8 match winning run for Sandbach

Sandbach travelled to Prestwich knowing that 3 points would be vital if they were to keep in touch with their play off rivals, however goals at the start of each half ensured Prestwich a victory.

Prestwich flew out the blocks and took the lead after just one minute when right back Daniel Vincent found an unmarked Danny White on the edge of the box who was then able to slot the ball past Moss and into the bottom left corner.

Sandbach had a mountain to climb after a poor start, they almost got back into the game straight away when Luke Walley wriggled his way past a Prestwich defender and fired a shot from the edge of the box, although it was straight at the keeper who saved easily.

Sandbach were pushing for an equaliser and came close again in the 6th minute when James Kirby drilled a ball low and hard across the goal line, unfortunately for Sandbach no one was on hand to touch the ball into the back of the net.

Although Sandbach had chances, the early goal from White was still the only difference between the teams. Heys almost doubled their lead in the 26th minute, when good work from Rio Wilson-Heyes allowed him to get to the by-line and cross for forward Lee Bruce who couldn’t quite reach the ball as his header went well wide of Moss’ right post.

Ten minutes later Prestwich had another good chance as Slaven’s cross was again met by the right foot of Bruce whose shot from close range was brilliantly tipped around the post for a corner by Moss. From the resulting corner Heys captain Jacob Wood got up highest and squandered a glorious chance as his header went well wide of the left post.

Sandbach were struggling to deal with the Prestwich set plays, another corner on 40 minutes saw an unmarked Danny White head wide of the goal.

Just before half time Sandbach had two chances in quick succession; the first on 42 minutes when Kirby slid the ball to Rowntree who did well to make space for a shot from the 18 yard box, but his shot was well saved by the keeper as he dived down to his left to tip it round the post. The resulting corner was cleared only as far as Ryan Allock who volleyed towards goal, but the keeper acrobatically tipped it over for a corner.

Prestwich had most of the ball in the first half and went into the break with the 1-0 lead. After conceding early in the first half, Sandbach stand-in manager Donny Brown would’ve been very disappointed when his team were 2-0 down after only three minutes of the restart, Dominic Slaven found Wilson-Heyes on the edge of box and he cut inside and exquisitely curled his shot into the top right corner of the goal pass Ryan Moss, doubling Heys’ lead.

Sandbach pushed for a goal to halve the deficit. On 58 minutes Chris Rowntree found Tulloch with his back to goal on the edge of the box, Tulloch then backheeled it through the defenders legs and into the path of Rowntree who had carried on his run, Rowntree was then able to poke it past the on-rushing Goalkeeper to make it 2-1 and give Sandbach a chance to get something out of the game with half an hour to go.

United almost scored again when Tulloch’s cross was cleared, and it fell to Ryan Cattermole who volleyed wide of the goal.

In the 76th minute Heys almost made the game safe when a short corner from Slaven found Wilson-Heyes whose out swinging cross from the right flashed across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.

After scoring late on Saturday against Carlisle there was still hope that Sandbach could equalise, they so nearly did when in the 90th minute Jordan Davies did brilliantly to make space down the right and send in a cross towards unmarked substitute Chris Smith, although his header went over the bar from 8 yards out.

The game ended 2-1 to Prestwich Heys who continue their excellent winning streak, Sandbach struggled to get back in the game after conceding early.

Next Match
Sandbach travel to Little Wembley (BB9 7BN) on Saturday for their first visit to the home of Nelson FC.

Match report by Jack Beresford.