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Heys were undeserved losers to NWCFL outfit Atherton Collieries on Saturday, when uncharacteristic lapses allowed the home side to clinch a vital win, writes Scott White.

Colls went straight onto the attack when Nick Fish headed over from a Steve Denny centre in the first minute.

Heys then settled down, Lee Smart and Jeff Kavanagh combining well, and on four minutes they took the lead thanks to a sublime finish from Paul Thompson, who clipped home from an acute angle.

The lead was to last only eleven minutes, Nick Fish tapping the ball home from the edge of the area with Heys' defence looking for a linesman's flag.

Possession was even, but Colls' knowledge of their sloping pitch served them well as they searched for a second goal.

For Heys, there were brief flourishes, and on 19 minutes, Kev Brierley was involved in a fine crossfield move which ended with Eddie Barnes volleying powerfully over at the far post.

Thompson was leading the line well, and on 23 minutes he took advantage of confusion in the home defence before shooting just wide.

For Colls, the vastly experienced Denny was to prove a thorn in Heys' side all afternoon, and Gerry Harrison showed all his class when thwarting the wideman on 25 minutes.

John Garrick was in lively form on the flank, and Lee Smart just failed to connect with his well weighted centre shortly before the half hour mark.

Thompson then turned provider for Heys when we put Smart in, but he shot over.

Heys' reluctance to gamble on the early ball into Thompson and Smart saw useful possession squandered, but Colls were struggling to find any pattern.

They did manage to carve out the best chance of the half on 40 minutes when Denny drove through and crossed to the unmarked Fish at the far post, but he inexplicably headed over with the goal gaping.

The second period saw Heys playing down the slope, Smart battering a powerful shot over the bar in the opening exchanges.

Gary Massey controlled superbly before sending in a quality ball only two minutes later, but Smart's effort was blocked.

Heys were well on top at this point, Thompson being adjudged offside when through on goal, but all too often, the final ball did not match the high quality of Prestwich's approach play.

Adie Moran replaced Jeff Kavanagh to firm up in the middle of the park as the game approached the hour mark, and another great chance went begging when Barnes shot wide after impressive work from Harrison and Smart.

On 57 minutes, Thompson chased a diagonal ball before crossing to Smart at the far post, but his header flew over the bar.

Brandon Jolly came on for Smart shortly afterwards as Heys enjoyed a period of control. Garrick and Jolly exchanged passes to set up another platform, but the visitors' were guilty of wasting their territorial advantage.

Colls' experience began to show itself, only an alert Harrison cutting out a good chance on 68 minutes. Atherton were now growing in confidence, and they edged ahead on 75 minutes when Heys were caught playing too much football in their own half allowing Steve Denny to steal in and blast home.

Thompson was showing great determination, driving forward on several occasions, but the game was now drifting away from Heys.

Colls nearly went further ahead on 85 minutes when Fish broke away when clearly in an offside position, Johnston saving one effort before Gary Massey cleared acrobatically off the line.

Heys continued in their efforts to eke out an equaliser, but the NWCFL side held on for three vital points.

Heys Line-up : Johnston, Massey, Brierley, Harrison, Carrington, Kavanagh (J), Barnes, Kavanagh (K), Smart, Thompson, Garrick. Subs : Moran, Jolly

Heys also fielded a second eleven when entertained Air Miles Manchester League new-boys Unsworth at Sandgate on Saturday afternoon, and claimed a 4-3 win from a scrappy encounter. Jamie Lomas was the hero of the game as he clinched a hat-trick of goals, Lee Hall adding the fourth.