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Saturday's top of the table clash with Atherton Town crammed all the highs and lows of supporting Prestwich Heys into 90 tense and exciting minutes of football, writes Scott White.

The opening exchanges saw the sides test each other with two vastly different game plans. Heys looked to employ an entertaining passing game to unlock the visitors defence, whereas Town played to their strength in attack and attempted to release ace strikers Phil Hornby and Danny Christie as quickly as possible.

Heys threatened as early as the fourth minute when Jon Garrick fed Lee Smart with a quick pass, but he was dispossessed, and soon afterwards, Smart fired in the first effort of the game which sped past the post.

Atherton looked to soak up the pressure, and the long ball from defence had a hand in their opening goal when a muffed clearance allowed Phil Hornby to collect and fire home on seven minutes.

Prestwich went straight back at Town and Kev Brierley released Brandon Jolly, who fired a good low cross in front of goal, but just out of reach of Heys' strikers.

Atherton 'keeper Gary Osborne almost gifted Heys an equaliser when he gave the ball to Karl Kavanagh, but he recovered well to parry the shot and Smart, off balance, could only shin the ball over.

The visiting defence looked very workmanlike, conceding scores of free kicks to stifle Heys passing game, and struggled to cope with the mobile Heys attack.

Jolly and Paul Thompson switched positions frequently throughout, yet the strength of Atherton's defending proved enough to hold out when Prestwich threatened.

Christie had a gilt edged chance to double Town's lead on sixteen minutes when he was released by the quick ball from midfield, but he slotted his final effort wide.

Thompson was next to threaten, Karl Kavanagh winning the header which allowed him to shoot, but the ball ricocheted away and Jeff Kavanagh could not quite control to test the 'keeper again.

Town then went two up in what was to prove a disastrous couple of minutes for Heys. Firstly, Gerry Harrison was bodychecked as he brought the ball out of defence, but the referee did not blow and he took out his frustrations in a wild challenge as Town moved forward with the ball to collect a booking.

From the free-kick, a statuesque Heys defence gave Neil Lewis the freedom of Sandgate before he drove into the far corner.

This was hard on Heys, who were playing the better stuff and creating the better chances, but home heads did not drop and they pulled a goal back on 27 minutes.

Jon Garrick, who has been in fantastic form of late, received the ball from Thompson, and he found the net with a pinpoint shot just inside the post.

The blustery conditions added to the obstacles supplied by Atherton as Heys squandered several promising dead ball situations by attempting to float the ball in, Osborne having all the time in the world to get in position to collect.

Another turning point followed as the game passed the half-hour mark, Phil Hornby kicking Karl Kavanagh in the back as he lay in the pitch, yet the referee opted for a quiet word, and his inaction played a crucial part in the next major blow for Heys.

As time ran down, Harrison shielded the ball from Hornby before attempting to kick the ball back towards his own goal. Hornby then shoved past him and the Heys defender stopped his progress to earn a second yellow card and an early shower.

So Heys went in a goal and a player down, and with the strong wind in their faces, but still with hope as they had played the better football and created the lion's share of chances.

Despite their obvious advantage, Atherton mysteriously chose to sit back on their lead in the second period, and this allowed Heys to press forward in numbers.

A double substitution saw Eddie Barnes and Dave Carrington replace Jolly and Marvin Walters as Prestwich adopted a back three as they took the game to Atherton.

Karl Kavanagh worked tirelessly in the middle, and there was confusion in the Atherton box on the hour, but the ball evaded a clutch of Heys players who waited to strike.

On 62 minutes, Carrington put in a great ball, but Thompson just failed to connect, and the Heys defender was again the provider as he fed Thompson with a good ball, which was laid off to Karl Kavanagh but he was a little too close to goal as he tried to chip the 'keeper.

Atherton fell back on the counter-attacking strategy of the first half, and almost added to their lead when Hornby shot, but Garrick was on hand to clear of the line.

To add to Heys' frustrations, the referee failed to punish Atherton for their persistent foul play as Heys went in search of goals.

As if to confirm the adage, Heys were playing better with ten men and grabbed a deserved equaliser on 76 minutes. Garrick took a quick free-kick to release Lee Smart, he popped in a low cross, Thompson stepped over and Dave Carrington was on hand to poke the ball over the line.

Two minutes later, there was delirium as Heys went ahead. Garrick won the ball with a magnificent tackle on the edge of the Town box, fed Smart on the overlap who passed to Thompson, who turned his man superbly before firing home.

This was a wake up call to Atherton who suddenly found their feet and began to press.

On 82 minutes, it looked like Christie would score, but Brierley and Johnston combined well to allow the Heys' 'keeper to collect well.

The dream was not to last though as Heys failed to defend their goal during the final minutes. Neil Lewis must have wondered what he had done to deserve such space as he first fired home at the near post to level the score, and then completed his hat-trick late on to snatch the points.

After such a gutsy and committed display, this was scant reward, but Heys' failure to defend or re-organise in the crucial final minutes of the game, against a side boasting two of the most clinical strikers in the Division, ultimately proved their undoing.

Heys now take a rest from league action for a fortnight as they travel to Wigan SMR for the First Round of the Lancashire Amateur Shield, and supporters should note that the kick-off time is 3.00pm. The following week they have the chance for swift revenge when they travel to Atherton Town in the Gilgryst Cup.

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

There was much better news for the reserves who bounced back in fine style with a 5-0 demolition of Willows, man of the match Steve Critchley scoring, Matty Edginton adding two goals with Leon Huller and Danny Gore also on target.

Next Saturday, the reserves entertain Atherton Town, kick-off 2.30pm.

The Under 18s drew 3-3 with Lancaster City in their opening North West Youth Alliance fixture, and were 2-0 up early on Matty Wharton and Andy Moore and in excellent form. The wheel turned full circle though as Lancaster clicked into gear and Heys found themselves 2-3 down before a late rally saw Prestwich draw level through Bernard Morley to claim a well deserved point.

The Under 17s scheduled derby match at Stand Athletic was not played as no officials turned up for the game.

Next Sunday, Heys Under 18s travel to Marine whilst the Under 17s welcome New Mills to Sandgate Road, kick-off 2.00pm.