Euxton 0, Prestwich Heys 2:

Heys finally took to the field to take on their Lancashire opponents in the Goldline Trophy Semi-Final after numerous postponements.

Heys started strongly as they looked to bounce back from Saturday's disappointing 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Leigh Athletic in the Gilgryst Cup.

Andy Sensale went close after 12 minutes as he latched onto Mark Westhead's flick on from Paul Hinchy's long kick but sent his first time shot from the edge of the box narrowly past the far post.

A surging run into the box by Westhead caused panic in the Euxton defence and as the forward rounded the keeper, the Villa stopper stuck out an arm, bringing Westhead down conceded a penalty.

Skipper Lee Connell stepped up confidently but saw his low effort well saved by the Euxton keeper.

Heys continued to go forward and young left-back Scott McManus was the next to try his luck, but his wild drive from 10 yards went over the crossbar.

It was not all one way traffic though, and Villa were unlucky on the half hour when a good deep cross was headed just wide with Hinchy scrambling across his goal.

Heys finished the half strongly. First, Connell tried his luck with a volley which was again well saved, before Sensale also went close with another volley from the edge of the box from John Cunningham's cross.

The second half was barely a minute old when Heys were awarded another penalty. This time Martin Love took over the spot-kick responsibilities, but his tame effort was easily saved.

Heys were starting to wonder if they would be made to rue these missed chances, but their nerves were calmed only five minutes later.

Jonathan Lyons ventured forward and unleashed a swerving, dipping effort that just beat the keeper's reach and found the top corner.

Such was Heys' dominance in the game, Villa would now need to put in a massive effort to get back into the game. They were nearly put out of reach when Love broke through the offside trap but saw his low drive well saved again by the outstanding Villa keeper.

Euxton then produced their most threatening period of the match which resulted in a forward bursting through the Heys back-line, one-on-one with Hinchy, who stayed alert to pull off a fine low save to his left.

Connell was in the thick of the goal-mouth action again when, with quarter of an hour remaining, his diving header from Lyons's deep cross on the right was parried round the post for a corner.

The resulting kick came to nothing though, but Heys sealed their night at the Reebok in March with a little over four minutes remaining.

Good work by Andy Sensale on the left as he kept the ball in play and crossed deep to sub, James Morley, at the back post. Morley's cushioned a header back out to the returning Steve Howson who didn't make a mistake as he drilled home from the edge of the box.

Heys return to league action this weekend as they entertain Breightmet United. Kick off at Sandgate Road on Saturday, 2.30pm.

HEYS: Hinchy, Cunningham, McManus, Walters, Doran, Roberts (Morley), Connell, Lyons (1), Westhead (Morris), Sensale, Love (Howson) (1).