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Lee Steele

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Northwich 4-3 Stafford

Northwich Victoria came out on top of a seven-goal thriller against Stafford Rangers at the Victoria stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Lee Steele put the home side into the lead on 19 minutes with a well-placed drive from 12 yards out.

But the host's lead did not last very long as Rangers hit back on 22 minutes through Neil Grayson.

And they found themselves in the lead just six minutes later when Christopher Flynn latched onto an Ishmael Reid free-kick to score from close range.

Despite going into the lead, they could not hold onto it, as the home side hit back in what was turning out to be an incredible game.

Mark Roberts was the man who pulled the sides level on 32 minutes when he slotted home a Joel Byrom cross from close range.

The home side regained the lead on 43 minutes when Cortez Belle pounced on a loose ball to find the net from 12 yards out.

The Vics started the second-half in a similar vein to that of the first and they thoroughly deserved to increase their advantage in the 51st minute.

Michael Byrne was the man who made it 4-2 when he slotted home from the penalty spot after Djoumin Sangare had fouled David Brown in the penalty area.

And the drama continued in the 59th minute when Nick Wellecomm made it 4-3, but it was not enough as the home side finally got a grip of the game and managed to keep the opposition attackers at bay for the remainder of the match.

Northwich bookings: Crowell 23, Byrom 45, Brown 54

Stafford bookings: Sangare 44

Ref: R Fletcher

Att: 971