Finnair Manchester League

Premier Division

Wythenshawe Ams 3

Prestwich Heys 2

TWO defensive lapses cost Heys the points at leaders Wythenshawe Amateurs and leaves them ten points adrift with three games in hand, writes Scott White.

Heys started well against the Amateurs as they controlled the pace and flow of the game in the opening exchanges, though there was little genuine goalmouth

incident as both sides settled down.

On 22 minutes Heys took the lead. A well-taken corner was only half-cleared and Tommy Hannam showed composure and class in calmly dragging the ball away from the keeper and slotting home through a crowded box.

As the half neared its end, Wythenshawe drew level.

A bread and butter corner was headed home by Andy Walker, and questions must be asked as to why the big Amateurs striker was allowed so much time and space to

pick his spot.

Heys could not complain when they fell behind on 49 minutes through another defensive lapse. It was Andy Halfpenny this time who exploited the absence of any marking from a corner to put Wythenshawe in front and, once again, for Prestwich, the damage was self-inflicted.

After a spell of Heys dominance, John Garrick weaved a bit of magic as his quick feet gave him the time and space necessary to plant a low shot in off the post on 65 minutes to make it 2-2.

The decisive moment of the game came when Denham lost the ball in midfield, and quick feet saw Gareth Mostyn beat the offside flag before winning the one-on-one with Johnston to make it 3-2 for Wythenshawe.

Heys: Johnston, Stokes, Brierley, Moran, Hannam, O'Shaughnessy, Greenhouse, Kavanagh, Denham, Ritchie, Garrick. Subs : Barnes, Jolly.

Next Saturday sees Heys travel again, this time to Pennington for a league clash, kick off 2.00pm.

The reserves face Old Alts at Sandgate in the league,

kick off 2.00pm.

The Under-18s Lancashire Youth Cup match with Rossendale United should take place on Sunday at Sandgate, kick-off 1.45pm, but should the pitch prove unplayable, it may be reversed.

Finnair Manchester

Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

1 Wythenshawe Ams 11 8 2 1 27 11 26

2 East Manchester 7 5 2 0 20 8 17

3 Mitchell Shackleton 10 5 2 3 18 11 17

4 Sacred Heart 8 5 2 1 16 10 17

5 Prestwich Heys 8 5 1 2 21 17 16

6 Stand Athletic 7 5 0 2 18 8 15

7 Willows 8 4 2 2 18 13 14

8 Dukinfield Town 10 4 2 4 9 10 14

9 Springhead 9 3 3 3 20 19 12

10 Atherton Town 7 3 1 3 8 7 10

11 Elton Fold 9 1 5 3 4 12 8

12 Monton Amateurs 8 2 1 5 19 23 7

13 Failsworth Town 8 2 0 6 13 18 6

14 Pennington 9 0 1 8 10 35 1

15 Stockport Georgians 9 0 0 9 10 29 0

Urmston - Record expunged

Finnair Manchester Football League Leading Goalscorers

Premier Division

League Cup Total

Mike Norton East Manchester 10 0 10

Mark Wilson Stand Athletic 7 3 10

Jamie Shepley Willows 9 0 9

Brandon Jolly Prestwich Heys 5 4 9

Bob Fulham Springhead 4 5 9

Baz Kabani Wythenshawe Ams 5 3 8

Andy Walker Wythenshawe Ams 7 0 7

Mike McNamara Springhead 4 3 7

Martyn Stewart East Manchester 3 4 7

Alex Ritchie Prestwich Heys 5 1 6

Steve Holt Sacred Heart 4 2 6

Darren Schofield Springhead 4 2 6