WYTHENSAWE 2, PRESTWICH HEYS 1: The pantomime season started early for Prestwich Heys as they totally dominated the game away to title contenders Wythenshawe.

However, unfortunately, their defenders were in festive mood and gave away a goal in each half to bring a excellent run to an end.

Heys started like a team that had won five games on the bounce, and the game was only 10 minutes old when Lee Connell, from an excellent Mark Westhead through-ball, finished in style past goalkeeper Holmes to give the visitors the perfect start.

Further chances for Howson and Fielding should then have increased there lead.

At this stage they were totally dominating the game.

With the returning Andy Roberts pulling the strings in midfield, it looked only a matter of time before further goals would be added.

But as always happens in football, teams that don't take their chances invariably get punished.

A sloppy piece of defending from Walters saw him give away a corner when under no apparent pressure. Mathews delivered the flag-kick into Heys' box and Porter headed the ball past Caldwell, with not a defender in sight, to bring the scores level.

It was the home team that then had chances to increase their lead, but it remained 1-1 at the break.

Heys replaced Jason Dormer with leading goalscorer Andrew Sensale at the break and he was soon in the action, bringing a top class save out of Holmes shortly after the restart.

Indeed, Heys began to lay siege to the Wythenshaw goal with chances for Uddin and Westhead, but they could not force a second goal.

The turning point arrived in the 65th minute when Westhead, who appeared at least five yards onside, finished in style to give Heys the lead, only to find the linesman with his flag up.

A mix-up between Doran, Caldwell and Thomas from the resulting free-kick conspired to present the home side with a golden chace to take the lead, and they didn't waste it.

The last 20 minutes saw Heys camped in the Wythenshaw half, having two penalty appeals turned down.

At the final whistle they were left to reflect on three points that could have been, instesd of three points that were needlessly thrown away, as for long periods of time this game was there for the taking.

HEYS: Caldwell, Hutchinson, Cunningham, Doran, Walters, Howson, Connell, Roberts, Westhead, Dormer, Fielding. Subs: Uddin, Sensale, Keegan.

* Heys had an opportunity to put Saturday's disappointing result behind them when they played Unibond First Division side Rossendale away in a friendly on Tuesday night.

They put in a excellent display against a team featuring three Heys old boys in Carl Lomax, Bernard Morley & Matt Edgington, the scorer on the night was Lee Connell who brought the scores level in the 76th minute.Heys introduced two of the u18s team in Scott McManus & Mike Woodcock who were excellent.

The reserves had a excellent 4-0 win at Gregorians on Saturday with Jeff Kavanagh 2,Steve Orrell and Paul Taylor getting one each to move themselves into fourth in the table.

There is no football this weekend but the heys have arranged a friendly against local rivals Walshaw for the 27th Dec 1pm ko.

Everybody at the club would like to wish all our supporters a Happy Xmas and Best Wishes for the New Year-lets hope it will be as good as the one just gone.