NEW MILLS 0 PRESTWICH HEYS 3

Air Miles Manchester League Premier Division

WITH the destination of the championship decided last Saturday, when Royton Town beat Wilmslow, Heys were playing for second place on Tuesday night at New Mills, while Leigh Athletic were at Springhead,

If both teams achieved maximum points, the runners-up spot would remain undecided until the final day of the season.

Heys did their bit with the win, and then the news filtered through that Leigh had drawn 1-1, which meant Heys had an unassailable four-point lead over Leigh and could not be caught.

The last three seasons have seen Heys finish third, sixth and now second, but this was a campaign that ought to have had a better outcome.

After losing three of the opening six games, Heys went on to post an unbeaten 18-game run, which put them into a championship position.

But three successive defeats came at the wrong time, and from that point on it was always going to be difficult to catch Royton up.

Two wins, a draw and three shutouts have since guaranteed Heys second place.

Perhaps the biggest plus to Heys' game this season has been the defence, with only 32 goals conceded in 29 games.

However, scoring only 52 goals probably denied Heys the opportunity to stick the championship trophy in the Sandgate cabinet.

The performance at New Mills had more than a touch of professionalism about it, building up a two-goal lead by half-time, thanks to the heads of Woodcock and Uddin.

In the second half they produced some excellent defending against a Mills side desperate to retain some pride after being outplayed in a one-sided opening 45 minutes.

However, the result was put beyond doubt when Woodcock hit his second and Heys' third.

The journey home aboard Sedgley Park Tigers' luxury Hollins Travel coach, was therefore enjoyable.

HEYS: Rooney, Dydyna, Slater, McGee, Walters, Woodcock, Kavanagh, Lyons, Uddin, Watson, Parry. Subs: Orrell, Shaw, Monks.