THAT winning feeling continues for Witton Albion.
Ben Harrison’s side made it three victories in eight days as they saw off Stafford Rangers 2-0 at the U Lock It Stadium.
James Hooper proved to be Albion’s super sub, sealing the success with a rasping second goal just three minutes after entering play as a replacement for Wealth Dasilva.
Sadly for the player and Witton though, Hooper left the field four minutes later with an injury.
Although that proved to be a killer 74th-minute goal, Stafford did have chances to reduce the deficit late on but Albion kept hold of their first clean sheet since August 26.
Witton enjoyed a touch of fortune in going ahead in the first half though, with Stafford defender James O’Neill putting the ball into the back of his own net shortly before the interval.
The red and white stripes, who fielded an unchanged starting team from the one which triumphed 2-1 at Newcastle Town in midweek, climbed to 11th on the Northern Premier League West ladder as a result of this win.
Witton, who were dangerously close to the relegation zone a week ago, are now only four points adrift of the play-off spots with a game in hand on the fifth-placed club, while Stafford remain 18th.
Harrison was delighted with three-in-a-row and said: "Fair play to the lads, they've worked hard and put shifts in for what has been three totally different games. And the pleasing thing is we won all three.
"Saturday was tough. Stafford put lots of balls in our box for their big lads, it seemed they had a long throw from every player, but our bits of quality that we showed was enough to win it.
"That was a proper win, where our backs were against it a lot of the game because of how many balls they put in the box, but we stood up to it and it's very pleasing."
It was a case of better late than never for Winsford United as they got the better of New Mills 2-1 in North West Counties League Division One South at Barton Stadium.
A draw looked to be on the cards but Ollie Pope and Matt Woolley had their own script as they conjured up Witton’s ninth win on the trot.
In the second minute of added time, Pope swung into the box a dangerous low free kick which Woolley redirected into the back of the net for his 14th goal of the season.
Reece Davies had put Blues ahead in the second minute of added time at the end of the first half.
Winsford took their foot off the gas at the start of the second half and paid the price when the visitors equalised through former Northwich Victoria frontman Chad Whyte in the 53rd minute.
Blues were unlucky not to restore their lead when Davies’ low shot was hacked off the goal-line by The Millers’ Chris Pauley in the 62nd minute.
But cometh the hour, cometh the man, as Woolley sealed three points that moved Winsford to second place, leaping Alsager after their shock 2-0 loss away to bottom team Runcorn Town.
Meanwhile in the same division, Barnton drew 1-1 at home to Foley Meir after they had looked set for a victory.
Matthew Williams put The Villagers in front after 26 minutes but Tyler Mallett sunk Barnton hearts when he equalised in the first minute of added time.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here