Stalybridge 1 Winsford Utd 0

UniBond Premier Division

ONE goal was always likely to separate these sides and it was Winsford who conceded it, slumping to their first defeat of the season on Monday, writes NICK SMITH.

Craig Hall caught the visiting defence sleeping five minutes into the second half, striking a sweet first-time shot past Andy Oakes from the edge of the area.

United began with a bright spell of attacking, with Steve Aspinall and Paul Wheeler prompting from midfield.

But it was Steve Hibbert, in for injured skipper Mark Came, who had the best chance of the half when Gary Talbot's header across goal from a free-kick found his centre-back partner unmarked, but unable to direct his header on target.

After a first period of few opportunies, it was Stalybridge who took the lead with a bolt out of the blue.

When David Gardner broke down the right and hit a cross which bobbled across the 18-yard line, there appeared to be no danger until Hall met it first time with his right foot.

The striker's shot flew into Oakes' bottom corner to put Celtic 1-0 up.

Winsford fought back strongly and piled the pressure on their opponents' goal, with Paul Knowles spreading across his line to tip away Aspinall's curling free-kick midway through the half.

Nathan Peel, returning from injury to make his first appearance of the season, turned to fire a power drive from a tight angle but Knowles held on.

The home keeper was then penalised for not releasing the ball and Aspinall had another chance from a free-kick, this time inside the area. However, like most of Winsford's long-range strikes in the second half, he only managed to clatter the top of the stand behind the goal.

With Blues players committed up front, a counter attack in injury time led to the game catching fire, ignited by the sending-off of Winsford full-back David German for his second bookable offence.

Substitute Lee Trundle was bearing down on goal before German brought him down on the edge of the area, sparking an angry reaction from the home supprters and players, who demanded the red card.

After the final whistle touchline tempers flared, with both sets of players and United boss Dalton Steele involved in a scuffle which was quickly defused.

It appears that no further action will be taken but the incident summed up a frustrating afternoon for Winsford.

Winsford: Oakes, German, Heesom, Hibbert, Talbot, Wheeler (Thomas), Hussin (Peel), Lambert, Shaughnessy, Steele, Aspinall.

Attendance: 560.

Man of the match: Steve Aspinall.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.