Goals from Jack Coop and Greg Daniels gave Prestwich Heys a hard-earned 2-0 win over Padiham at Adie Moran Park on Tuesday night, writes Steve Howard.

After back-to-back defeats - including Saturday’s heavy 6-0 defeat at Workington in the FA Cup - this was a much needed three points for Heys who had to dig deep against a lively Padiham side. Heys keeper Jordan Hadlow pulled off several fine saves and was in action as early as the third minute with a great close range save from Remi Thompson.

The visitors continued to enjoy the better of things in a high tempo encounter with Heys taking time to establish any rhythm and it was not until the 35th minute that they had any real sight of goal when Brad Sixsmith saw a shot pushed round the post.

However, a minute later Heys did take the lead when a deep cross by Matt Davies was headed back across goal bySixsmith and as the ball dropped Coop swooped, leaning back and hitting the ball on the turn into the net from close range.

The home side held the lead until the break and started the better on the restart. However, with no let up in the pace of the game Padiham hit back leading to a crazy fifteen minute spell that saw numerous chances at both ends.

With neither side able to capitalise a nervy ending saw Nathan Bartram-Conway nearly score from his own half for Heys before Hadlow pulled off a couple of smart saves to deny the visitors.

With Padiham committing everything to attack they remained susceptible to the counter attack and in the 92nd minute a lightning break ended with Tyler James being brought down in the box for a penalty which Greg Daniels slotted home to secure victory for Heys.

On Saturday, a four-goal frenzy in the last 12 minutes - that included a hat-trick for striker Scott Allison - completed a miserable day for ten-man Prestwich Heys against Northern Premier League side Workington Town as they crashed to a 6-0 defeat in the first qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup at Borough Park.

Heys were looking to bounce back from a 2-0 midweek league defeat at AFC Liverpool and this was always going to be a tough ask against a Workington side two leagues higher in the pyramid.

It was the home side who came quickly out of the blocks and were ahead in the fifth minute thanks to a goal from Lewis Reilly.

Disaster struck in the 20th minute when Allison was brought down by Heys defender Regan Brown just outside the box but, as he was the last man, the referee showed no hesitation in showing a straight red card. In the 27th minute, Workington doubled their lead thanks to a Reilly penalty.

Heys kept pluggin away after the break but, being a man down for much of the match, they began to tire and Workington took full advantage - scoring four times in a 12-minute spell with Allison netting a quick-fire hat-trick while Keelan Leslie was also on target.

Heys are away to the Isle of Man on Saturday (6pm) before hosting Ramsbottom United next Tuesday night (7.45pm)