Litherland REMYCA 3-4 Prestwich Heys - Match Report

In this FA Cup tie between Litherland REMYCA vs Prestwich Heys, it proved to be a game which had it all. Including seven goals, three offside goals, plenty of attempts, near misses, penalty shouts and almost a sensational comeback, but it was the travelling ‘Heys’ who squeezed past ‘REMY’ after Callum Nicholas’ double, Connor Berry’s spot-kick and Mitch Bryant finish meant the ‘REMY’ fightback with goals from Paul Speed and two from Johnny Foy was all in vain.

It only took a matter of minutes for the game to spark into life, with the travelling Prestwich Heys starting the brighter of the two in the opening minutes, with their first sight of goal being a scramble in the box, with several ‘Heys’ effort gallantly thwarted by the ‘REMY’ backline. 

Dylan Fitzgerald and Mitch Bryant attacking hazard for Prestwich inferred that they were posing the biggest threat to the Litherland REMYCA goal, with both players combining on several occasions to give the ‘REMY’ a scare. The first time they both linked up was Bryant guiding Fitzgerald’s deep cross into the area just past the post, with the next few being stopped by Ryan Jones.

‘REMY’s’ first eye for goal was calved out by Lewis Sinnot, who’s delivery was caught by George Lomax, with his best effort with an acrobatic attempt being blocked by a ‘Heys’ defender and almost looped over Russ Saunders, however it eventually went behind for a corner for the home team. 

From the resulting corner, Prestwich Heys ran clear on the break. A Prestwich player cut it back to Callum Nicholas from the bi line, with Nicholas pounding home out of Ryan Jones’ reach to give the visitors the upperhand. 

Litherland REMYCA were unlucky not to draw themselves level on half an hour after a in swinging free-kick was flicked on to George Lomax who broke clear of the ‘Heys’ defence to nod past Saunders, but lamentably for the ‘REMY’ striker the fourth officials adjudged him to be offside, with the jubilation amongst the REMYCA supporters evaporating once the flag was raised. 

The visitors came close to firming their grip on the tie with a second goal. After a series of headers inside the box, a Prestwich player guided a strike goal wards which was only partly cleared out of the box by ‘REMY’, with the follow up by Rudy Misambo unphasing Ryan Jones, who was down to scoop up the ball.

The ‘REMY’ began to gain a foothold in the game, with some half chances not being converted, most notably a vigorous strike from long range creeping past the post on the whistle for half-time. 

HT: Litherland REMYCA 0-1 Prestwich Heys

Prestwich Heys came flying out the blocks at the start of the second period and in the space of five minutes after the restart, found themselves three goals to the good. 

Callum Nicholas netted ‘Heys’ second on 48 minutes, running clear of the ‘REMY’ backline to find himself one-on-one with Ryan Jones, with Nicholas’ strike drifting past Jones. 

Two minutes later, Ryan Jones gifted the away side a chance for a third goal, bringing down Connor Berry in the area to award ‘Heys’ a penalty, in which the winner of the spot-kick Berry slotting past Jones, wrong-footing the REMYCA keeper. 

The third goal breathed new life into ‘REMY’ with the hosts grabbing a lifeline and swinging the momentum in their favour, with Paul Speed powering home into the bottom left corner after Jamie McDonald’s cutback set up Speed for his goal. 

Prestwich Heys looked to be out of sight after accreting a fourth goal to their account. A ball swung into the box left Johnny Foy tussling with Mitch Bryant, with Bryant being able to stab past Ryan Jones in time before Foy could clear the danger.

Foy redeemed himself by netting two goals in quick succession to leave Prestwich Heys grip on the tie hanging by a thread. Similar to the first, Foy smashed home after a cutback and then reacted quickest after a venomous strike from the edge of the area hammered the crossbar and rebounded on the goal-line, with Foy being able to head home from guilt-edged range.

Prestwich urged for a fifth goal to give them comfort once more in the game and to virtually seal their spot in the next round, with ‘Heys’ having two goals chalked off for offside. Firstly, Ryan Jones rushed out far, allowing Mitch Bryant to round him and slot into an empty net, but the linesman adjudged him to be on the wrong side of the defensive line. Minutes later, a free-kick was partially cleared out and sat up well for Nathan Emery, who’s robust volley collided off the post and Bryant hastily acted onto the rebound which he put home, but again was assessed to be offside.

REMYCA were agonisingly close to completing a remarkable comeback, with the first ‘REMY’ goalscorer Paul Speed’s effort taking a colossal deflection off Rudy Misambo and was cleverly saved by a wrong-footed, diving Russ Saunders.

REMY through all they had at Saunders in the closing stages, latching onto some long balls with some desperate headers being thwarted by Saunders.

Ultimately, Prestwich held onto their tight and hard-fought win to progress to the next round of the FA Cup.

FT: Litherland REMYCA 3-4 Prestwich Heys