Prestwich Heys returned to winning ways with an impressive 2-0 home win over Longridge Town on Tuesday night.

After a run of only one win in seven games - including Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Northwich Victoria - which yielded only five points, this was a performance more in keeping with that shown in the opening months of the season. Some fine attacking football combined with solid defence made this a comfortable win for Heys.

It was a defeat at Longridge that sparked the poor run of form and Heys started like a side looking to put that right as they set off at a terrific pace. They came close to opening the scoring in the third minute when a wayward back pass was seized upon by Tyler James. The Heys striker surged into the box but forced wide by the advancing keeper James Aspinall, his angled shot came off the post back into the stoppers arms.

Max Bardsley-Rowe then fired an angled shot wide after good work by Matt Davies as Heys maintained momentum and in the 16th minute the latter put them ahead with a fantastic strike. The ball was quickly worked across the edge of the area to Davies who set himself before firing a thunderous shot that beat the keeper all ends up.

It was the 19th minute before the visitors had their first true sight of goal but Morgan Homson-Smith’s shot was catching practice for Jordan Hadlow.

Davies, James and Bardsley-Rowe were a constant threat, giving the Longridge defence no time to settle and with Omar Mbowe, imperious in midfield, in the 26th minute Heys doubled their lead. Jacob Ngoy broke forward to find Davies whose near post cross was flicked on by Scot Cullen to send the ball looping over Aspinall and into the net.

On the half hour Bardsley-Rowe broke into the box but fired just wide before on the stroke of half time Aaron Chalmers headed over from a corner.

The start of the second half saw no let up in Heys intensity and they thought they had added to their tally in the 55th minute as from a corner the ball broke to Cullen whose shot came off the post, across the face of goal and somehow stayed out.

Longridge responded with a sharp shot by Dean Ing over the bar but it was Heys who remained in control. Under 23’s striker Rio Clegg replaced James in the 70th minute and was soon in the action as he turned a Davies cross inside for Cullen who shot into the side netting.

Davies then twisted and turned in the box before firing into the side netting as Heys sought the third goal that would settle the contest.

Whilst the two-goal margin remained there was still hope for the visitors of salvaging something and as the game entered the final quarter of an hour, for the first time in the evening, they began to enjoy some good possession, forcing three successive corners. Cameron Gourlay then fired a shot over before a dangerous ball into the box eluded Ing and Homson-Smith.

However, it was too little too late from the away side as Heys eased to a welcome victory.

Heys now turn their attention to the visit on Saturday of league leaders Vauxhall Motors, who are seven points clear at the top. Kick off at Adie Moran Park is 3pm.