A Dylan Fitzgerald goal wasn’t enough as Colne fought back with a penalty before half time as the points were shared at Adie Moran Park, writes Paul Thomason.

It was a good start from the home side and they created the first chance three minutes in. Nice combination play between Erike Sousa and Fitzgerald on the edge of the area allowed the latter to get a shot away from sixteen yards out, across the ground, but it was just wide to the goalkeepers right.

However, some careless play from Heys, a few minutes later, allowed Joshua Green a shot which was palmed away by home ‘keeper Hood.

In the tenth minute, there was a good chance for Prestwich, Dylan Fitzgerald played the ball to Luc Ferry on the left, running inside the penalty area, with a sight of goal, but his shot went harmlessly wide to the keepers right.

The best chance of the match so far, for Colne, came in the twenty first minute. A free kick from around thirty-five yards allowed a free header which was saved by Hood, and as the ball came loose, the referee blew for a free kick.

At this point, Prestwich were looking a little wobbly and in need of something and a minute later, a good cross from the left by Ferry to the far post was well taken by Sousa who flicked it up and shot low on the volley, but it was well taken by Harry Allen in the Colne goal at the second attempt.

Heys were now getting into the game and got their reward in the twenty-fifth minute. When a free kick was cleared by Colne it only found its way to Bradley Sullivan, he played the ball back into the box to Fitzgerald, with his back to goal, who turned and got his shot away into the top corner, giving Allen no chance, to give his side the lead for the first time this season.

Eight minutes later, Prestwich could have doubled their lead. A great run from Sousa down the right picked out Sullivan, his shot was parried by Allen, with the ball falling for Ferry, but the danger was cleared before he could get his shot away.

For Prestwich, it was about making sure to hold their lead until half time, but Colne reminded Heys that they were still there. A shot from Green, from around eighteen yards out, went through a sea of bodies but was well saved by Louis Hood.

Colne continued to put some pressure on and four minutes before half time, they were awarded a penalty which was put down the middle by Kyle Preece to send the sides in level at half time.

The scoreline was a fair reflection of the half with both teams unable to take control of the game. With both newly assembled for this season, you could tell neither had ‘clicked’ yet which only comes with game time together.

Seconds after the restart, Colne were awarded a second penalty. Fortunately for Heys, Kyle Preece sent it well wide to the keepers left. Prestwich got away with one there but did go down to ten players on fifty-five minutes when Nathan Bartram-Conway was sin binned.

In the sixty-fifth and sixty-eighth minute, Prestwich made changes to try and take the initiative in a game which at this time was turning well in Colne’s favour. This included Will Gore making his debut as he came on for the injured Bradley Sullivan.

The last ten minutes saw Heys have the better of the game and they had the opportunity to win it when a mix-up at the back for Colne saw Sousa square the ball to Kade Hargreaves whose initial shot was saved by the keeper, and as the ball fell back to him his second attempt went wide.

In the end it was a game that could have gone either way. There was a lot of effort from both sides and a draw seemed a fair result. Heys will be happy to get off the mark for the season but maybe a little disappointed not to take all three points. But it’s more minutes together for these players who haven’t played too much football together as a group. Another strong performance from Erike Sousa and a superb finish from Dylan Fitzgerald were some positives to take away.

Team: Louis Hood, Callum Graham, Riche Makelele, Gabriel Mooney-Munoz, Nathan Bartram-Conway, Shay Stansfield, Erike Sousa, Bradley Sullivan, Dylan Fitzgerald, Ardian Gashi, Luc Ferry Subs; Hensley Mills, Kade Hargreaves (for Ferry 68 mins), Edward Schryburt (for Gashi 65 mins), Will Gore (on for Sullivan 65 mins), Finley Stanyer

Heys host Stockport Town on Saturday (3pm) and Abbey Hey next Tuesday 20th April (7.45pm) both in the NW Counties Premier Division