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Prestwich Heys 6-0 Pennington
Saturday 1st September 2001

Air Miles Manchester League Premier Division

Freescoring Prestwich Heys staged a six-goal demolition of Pennington on Saturday to maintain the Sandgate Road side's great start, writes Scott White.

Within minutes of the kick-off, Heys went ahead after a blistering opening spell. Lee Smart launched a long throw-in into the visitors' penalty area, and a desperate clearing header by a defender was palmed onto the bar by the 'keeper before Paul Thompson made no mistake from close range.

Jeff Kavanagh was in good form, and his excellent approach play brought Heys a corner as the home side continued to pile on the pressure.

Pennington made an indifferent start, and simply could not cope with Heys' passing game, but they had a good chance to level in a 12th minute breakaway, Brian Ahern doing enough to put Bren Gilbertson off as he bore down on goal.

It was then back down to the other end as the Kavanagh brothers ran the show in the middle of the park, and on 14 minutes the second goal came when Thompson turned provider as he put in a superb cross which Smart headed into the back of the net with the minimum of ceremony.

Two minutes later it was 3-0, Jon Garrick bursting down the left flank before cutting the ball back for Smart to blast home his second goal of the afternoon.

Kev Brierley joined the attack and came within inches of adding the fourth when he sent in a curling shot which zipped past the post.

Heys should have had a fourth goal on 24 minutes when the ball was flicked towards goal with Thompson primed to net, but the referee chose to stop play to book Smart and a Pennington defender before restarting the game with a bounced ball.

Jeff Kavanagh was next up as he brought a great save out of the Pennington 'keeper with a crisp low drive which looked destined for the bottom corner on 26 minutes.

The effort was eclipsed a minute later when Garrick picked out the top corner of the net from the edge of the area with a fine dipping shot to make it 4-0.

Pennington were all at sea, and Heys created platform after platform to tease and test the visitors' defence, and could have had a couple more goals before Jeff Kavanagh added the fifth on 34 minutes.

Gary Massey, who caused Pennington headaches all afternoon, set Thompson off on a powerful run down the left, he played the ball to Garrick, who laid it off for Kavanagh to drive home.

Massey then got in a shot of his own, and the strong running of Thompson and Smart kept the good-sized crowd entertained until half-time.

Heys eased off the gas in the second period, but credit must go to Pennington, who defended much better after the restart and played with pride after a nightmare of a first half.

It took eight minutes for Heys' first good chance when Smart was fouled, and Brandon Jolly clipped the bar from the dead ball kick.

Heys made a triple substitution as Adie Moran, Si Kluj and Eddie Barnes replaced Smart, Carrington and Brierley on 56 minutes, but it did not affect Heys attacking efforts in another one sided half.

Garrick had almost scored following a great ball from Massey before Kavanagh fed Barnes down the right, but his cross was headed clear with Garrick lurking.

The Heys danger man did not have to wait long though as just after the hour, Garrick made it six when he headed home a pinpoint Harrison ball from a free-kick just inside the Pennington half.

The Leigh side never let their heads drop and looked to break at any occasion, Sam Heenan poking wide on 64 minutes.

Thompson came agonisingly close to making it seven after Garrick had exploited hesitancy in the Pennington defence before sending a daisy cutter across the six-yard box.

There were plenty more chances for Heys, Thommo showing some clever footwork before shooting too close to the 'keeper, and Massey hit the bar after a Karl Kavanagh cross was flicked on by Garrick.

Ahern made a great save from Gilbertson on 76 minutes when the burly Pennington striker burst through one on one.

With the game won, Heys played keep-the-ball as they looked to unlock the defence with the passing and movement that has been the hallmark of their play so far, but some stout defending kept the score to 6-0, and Heys claimed another three points.

This Saturday sees early Premier Division leaders Atherton Town visit Sandgate Road, and a close affair is in prospect as the Howe Bridge side have been in scintillating form of late, kick-off 2.30pm.

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

Heys reserves were in much improved form on Saturday as they made reigning Second Division Champions Wythenshawe Amateurs battle all the way for their narrow 2-0 win, and they travel to Willows confident of collecting their first points of the season, kick-off 2.30pm.