Prestwich Heys 2 Elton Fold1

ANOTHER frustrating catalogue of missed chances spelt defeat for Fold in this end-of-season derby as Heys took advantage of Elton's sloppy finishing to claim the points.

It was the home side who started the liveliest on Saturday (May 9) as they forced a string of corners but these yielded a blank and Elton began to drag themselves into the game.

Gary Davenport became the first of several cautions for a seemingly innocuous challenge on Heys 'keeper Gibbons.

The next challenge between the two saw Gibbons catch the ball and lash out with his foot at Davenport, sending the Fold man crashing to the ground.

The incident looked an obvious penalty and early bath but the referee amazingly only awarded Fold an indirect free kick and produced no card of any colour.

The opening goal finally came in the 55th minute when a deep cross to the back post found two Heys' players totally unmarked and when the initial header came back off the bar, Ritchie was on hand to stab the ball into the net.

Heys then made an inspired substitution bringing on Hudson who proved to be a handful for Elton's central defenders.

He then raced 30 yards before putting the ball in the net with Fold looking to the linesman in disgust.

The home side were then reduced to ten men in the 70th minute when Christian received a red card for a dreadful tackle on Keith Ingham, who then received a yellow card for retaliation.

Up front Fold's Dave Aspinall was having a horrid afternoon missing a string of 'one-on-one's' as Fold took advantage of the extra man. So it was up to fullback Jason Horrocks to show him how to finish in the 80th minute with a blistering twenty-five yard strike. Then with the last kick of the season, Martin Rayner found himself unmarked six yards out but put his effort into the grateful arms of Gibbons and the equaliser had gone.

The Reserves lost 6-4 at Abbey Hey. Derek Alderton (2), Steve Smith and Andy Emslie were the scorers.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.