THIS was not a game for the faint hearted.

This was all about rolling your sleeves up and getting stuck in and both sides had it in abundance.

But while it may have been all kick and rush, long throws and route one football, both sides managed to serve up a tasty top of the table clash.

Leaders Heys held the lead twice but surrendered it against a Bee Hive side who have games in hand and should prove to be their nearest title rivals.

There were stand out performances all over the park.

John Isherwood was terrific in the Heys Inn goal while goal-scoring centre back Lee Tattersall was immense in the heart of the defence.

For Bee Hive, battering ram forward Matt Pendergast was a constant threat up front while strike partner Michael Newton did exactly what is says on the tin, score goals.

But for all the hustle-and-bustle, Brian Fogarty was the only player who seemed to have the extra bit of time on the ball and his class stood out.

He scored from one fine free kick and was denied from another due a wonderful flying finger tip save from that man Isherwood.

But for all Fogarty's invention in the opening stages, it was Heys who took the lead using the direct approach.

Matthew Aspin had already caused chaos in the Bee Hive defence with his long throws and this one finally did the trick when Tattersall rose to thump home a header.

But the lead was short lived as a Bee Hive route one attack resulted with Pendergast laying the ball in to the path of Newton who did really well to hold off his marker before firing low past the keeper.

Steven Saunders then hit the Heys Inn cross bar before Paul Brown hit the side netting after venturing forward for a Fogarty corner.

But if their first goal was direct then Heys' second was route one in its most basic form.

Isherwood launched a monster of a kick up field which Adrian Dugdale allowed to bounce giving Liam McMillan the chance to nip in between the centre back and keeper to nod in to the unguarded net.

Bee Hive should have gone in level when Fogarty unleashed a peach of a left foot free kick that was top corner bound until Isherwood leapt across his goal to claw the ball away. Truly top drawer stuff.

The pace didn't relent after the break and in fact the match got even more frantic.

Newton headed horribly wide from close range after running on to a Pendergast cross. The pair combined again soon after only this time Isherwood produced another fine save to deny Newton.

McMillan was inches away from heading his second when he dived full length trying to connect with an inviting cross from Danny Mallon. Aspin then messed up with an attempted chip when he latched on to a poor clearance from Bee Hive skipper Jimmy Watson.

At the other end, Brown fired wide again after a bit of ping-pong in the Heys area before a superb tackle by Tattersall denied Newton a shot on goal after good build up play by Fogarty and Watson.

Aspin then had a great chance to extend Heys' lead but curled an effort wide after Bee Hive keeper Lee Entwistle spilled the ball on the edge of the area.

But with time ticking away, Bee Hive finally pulled level when Fogarty opted for power over precision from his next free when his firmly struck low drive finally beat Isherwood, although the keeper did get a hand on the ball.

That should have been that. Honours even.

But in one final twist, Steven Sauders launched a long throw in to the area, Brown flicked on and Newton rose to head home.

Not the prettiest of games but completely enthralling.

Ratings Bee Hive Utd Manager: Darren Denning Lee Entwistle (keeper) Slightly uncertain but did a decent job in difficult conditions 6 Richard Fogarty (right back) Battled well and never buckled when put under pressure 7 Jimmy Watson (left back) Skipper led by example. Got his tackles in early and made his mark 7 Adrian Dugdale (centre back) At fault for second goal but solid in defence and always encouraging those around him 7 Paul Brown (centre back) Experienced defender made for these type of matches. Got stuck in a played part in winner 7 Steven Saunders (right midfield) Fired over from range in the opening minute and hit the bar in the first half 6 Andrew Richardson (left midfield) First to force a save out of the excellent Isherwood but another who wasn't always in the thick of the action 6 BRIAN FOGARTY (centre midfield) Superb in the middle of the park and at the centre of all of Bee Hive's best moments. Scored a fine free kick 8 Alan Watson (centre midfield) Played more of a holding role but headed wide from a Fogarty corner 6 Matt Pendergast (striker) Heys Inn didn't know how to handle him and a real nuisance throughout the match 7 Michael Newton (striker) Showed great strength for his first goal and rose to head home a dramatic late winner 7 Heys Inn Manager: Peter Burton John Isherwood (keeper) Exceptional display in goal and pulled off a number of top saves including a stunning one handed save to keep out Fogarty free kick 8 Dave Ormerod (right back) Stuck to his defensive duties and battled well 6 Brian Pemberton (left back) Not afraid to get stuck in and revelled in battle Lee Tattersall (centre back) Scored with one header, went close with another and was inspired in middle of defence 8 Chris Furness (centre back) Given more of a rough ride than defensive partner but stuck to his task 6 Danny Moorings (right midfield) In and out of the action in first half but saw more of the ball after the break 6 Danny Mallon (left midfield) Didn't see too much of the ball but one superb cross was the highlight of his performance 6 Dave Scambley (centre midfield) Can't fault commitment. Got a crack on the head, got patched up and played on 7 Dave Ainscow (centre midfield) Worked hard alongside Scambley in the middle of the park against Fogarty and Watson 6 Liam McMillan (striker) Alert to latch on to Isherwood kick to head Heys in to the lead. Didn't see enough of the ball after the break 7 Matthew Aspin (striker) Long throws caused all sorts of problems but had a few chances to get on the scoresheet himself 7 Subs Mark Isherwood (midfield) Was in the wars and took two hefty knocks on the head 6 Matt Moxham (midfield) Had a couple of decent runs when he came on 6