Prestwich Heys (A) \\\ Match Information

• Saturday 13th April 2024 
• 3:00pm kickoff
• NWCFL Premier Division, Matchday 45
• Adie Moran Park, Sandgate Road, Whitefield, M45 6WG
• Food and drink available inside the ground
• Pay on the gate, cash or card:
  • £7 adults
  • £4 concessions
  • Free under 16s

Live text commentary on Twitter @wd_cfc

Preview

West make the short journey north this weekend to face Prestwich Heys in the penultimate match of the season.

It's a match that undoubtedly has more riding on it for Heys, who sit outside the playoff places only on goal difference with just a week of the regular season left to play.

West, on the other hand, are virtually certain to finish in the bottom half - a disappointing prospect after a promising start. Having taken 27 points from the opening 15 games, the next 27 points have taken 29 games to accumulate; a dropoff that can't be ignored as West look to build a foundation for next season.

Chris Rowley is, in fact, unlikely to see his side finish higher than 14th or lower than 16th unless Ramsbottom or Barnoldswick can make use of their games in hand - ironically, two of only four clubs to have taken fewer points than West over that 6 month period.

Prestwich’s race for the playoffs does far more to catch the imagination, as only two points separate the four teams chasing the two remaining playoff spots. Kendal Town in 4th are arguably in pole position as they hold a two point advantage over Padiham and Prestwich, however both sides still carry a game in hand on the Mintcakes.

Also two points back but on the same games played are out-of-form Chadderton - West's final opponents next weekend - who have given up their advantage following a fourth consecutive defeat in midweek.

There is the potential for a spanner to be thrown into the works even at this late stage as both Charnock Richard and Colne, sitting 11th and 13th, are still mathematically capable of making what would be an astonishing run to playoffs.

Prestwich will therefore be acutely aware that they can't afford to drop points at such a crucial stage of the season. Their recent form has been inconsistent - alternating wins and defeats across their last eight matches. Perhaps ominously for West the last result in that run was a loss at Irlam, pointing to a home win this Saturday should the pattern continue. 

Superstition aside, West have returned to the disappointingly familiar 24th spot in the division’s form table. Despite some good spells in recent matches, West are winless in seven and have struggled to find the resolve and consistency required to turn losses into draws and draws into wins.

Heys suffered three injuries during that reverse at Irlam and West have a tendency to punctuate barren runs with surprising away wins, so there are reasons to be hopeful against a Heys side who will know a draw isn't enough.

Meet our opponents

Prestwich Heys were formed in 1938 at Heys Road Boys School and they established themselves as ‘Heys Old Boys AFC’. Throughout their early years they built a reputation as being one of the best amateur teams in the country and they won several pieces of silverware in the Lancashire region. It is understood that they changed their name to Prestwich Heys AFC in 1964 as a means of acknowledging the national fame that their recent successes had apparently brought them.

Heys were founder members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982. They were relegated back to the Manchester League in 1996, where they remained until 2016 when they fought their way back to the big time, maintaining Counties membership ever since.

They play their football at Adie Moran Park, named after former chairman Adie Moran who passed away whilst on holiday shortly before the 2007/08 season, aged just 43.

Heys are one of a small number of NWCFL teams overseen by two joint-managers; James Hampson and Lee O’Brien have successfully shared the top job since June 2022.

Form Guide

Prestwich Heys
Position: 6th
Form position: 9th
Last six overall: LWLWLW
Last six home: WLWWLL

West Didsbury & Chorlton
Position: 15th
Form position: 24th
Last six overall: LDDLLD
Last six away: LDDWLL

Last Meeting

Tuesday 27th February 2024
NWCFL Premier Divison
West 1 Prestwich Heys 1
West scorer: Ben Elliott 55
Attendance: 307

Recent Meetings

West hosted Prestwich only at the end of February, the sides sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Brookburn Road. It was an uneventful evening that was significantly hampered by the thick fog that hung in the air, but most West fans were just relieved to be back watching their team after three weeks of postponements.

Ben Elliott scored West’s second half equaliser in front of the Shed End, with West debutant Kieron Molloy picking up the Player of the Match award. Fast forward six weeks and Molloy is now a regular for Heys following his transfer across Manchester last month, scoring twice in his last three games.

The most memorable past encounter came in November 2021 when Division One South champions elect West scored four second-half goals to claim a 4-3 away scalp at Premier Division Heys. A brace from Billy Matthews levelled the scores at 2-2 going into the final stages, and while Lee Grimshaw - in between spells at West - regained the lead for hosts in the 80th minute, even later goals from Liam Delaney and Zeke Eme set West on their way to an indelible Lancashire Challenge Trophy run that went all the way to a final.

Head to Head

Overall:
P5 W2 D2 L1 F10 A9

At Adie Moran Park:
P2 W1 D0 L1 F5 A5

Quick Info

Travelling distance: 14 miles
West away 2023/24 round trip: 1,504 miles
Last season's position: 7th, NWCFL Premier
Last season's average attendance: 214
Pitch: Grass
Home colours: Red & white, black, red & white
Change colours: Grey & navy, navy, grey & navy

Other weekend fixtures
NWCFL Premier Division
Friday 12th April 2024
Skelmersdale United (24th) v Litherland REMYCA (9th)
Colne (14th) v FC Isle of Man (12th)
Played at Ilkley Town
Lower Breck (8th) v Squires Gate (21st)
Saturday 13th April 2024
AFC Liverpool (13th) v Glossop North End (19th)
Barnoldswick Town (17th) v FC Isle of Man (12th)
Bury (3rd) v Padiham (5th)
Chadderton (7th) v Wythenshawe Town (1st)
Charnock Richard (10th) v Irlam (11th)
Kendal Town (4th) v Cheadle Town (16th)
Longridge Town (22nd) v Colne (14th)
Pilkington (23rd) v Ramsbottom United (18th)
Wythenshawe (2nd) v Burscough (20th)

Pictures by Simon Cook & Chris Michell