Rochdale Sacred Hearts 3 Prestwich 3, Manchester League Premier Division (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Rochdale Sacred Hearts 3 Prestwich 3, Manchester League Premier Division

4:27pm Wednesday 25th March 2009

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HEYS raced into a two-goal lead within five minutes before Sacred Heart hit back.

Chris Jepson’s strike looked to have sealed the points until a goal in the dying seconds meant the spoils were shared.

After a maximum nine-point haul from their last three games, Heys looked certain to extend that winning run following a devastating opening five minutes on the artificial surface in Rochdale.

Paul Taylor’s long ball forward in only the second minute found Daniel Murray in space on the edge of the box. Unchallenged, the striker unleashed a volley into the top corner.

Just moments later, John Monks looked for route one again as Murray turned provider with a flick into the path of strike partner Mat Jolly who drew the goalkeeper before slotting low inside the post. This should have signalled the opening of the floodgates for Heys but, as they took their foot off the gas, the home side set about looking for a way back into the game.

A Rochdale free-kick was headed onto a waiting forward for the easiest of tap-ins on 20 minutes.

And just four minutes later the home side were level when another free-kick was bent low around the Heys’ wall and into the corner past an unsighted Paul Murphy.

Sacred Heart finished the opening period on top but could not find their way through, even though Taylor was forced to leave the action early following a sickening clash of heads that left the defender concussed and in hospital for a check-up.

After the break, winger Chris Jepson went close for the visitors before a Rochdale forward raced clear of the Heys’ defence only to toe-poke his effort just wide of the post.

Sam Smith’s drive from the angle was hacked off the line in the 65th minute before Jepson restored Heys’ lead just five minutes later with a dink over the keeper as he raced out to attempt a save.

Murphy in the Heys’ goal pulled off a superb reaction save in the 81st minute as Rochdale looked for a late equaliser.

But in injury time, Monksgave away a freekick which crashed down off the crossbar before being forced over the line by an alert forward to seal a share of the points.

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