Basford go joint top of table with win at Stalybridge Celtic

Son Callum scored his first goal in Basford colours eight minutes before the half-time to seal a fourth consecutive win in testing conditions and move alongside Warrington Town at the top of the latest league standings, despite Lewis Carr’s red card 20 minutes from time.

“It was hard. Conditions were tough and it was a very, very scrappy game,” said Chettle. “We showed great resilience from Jordan [Pierrepont] right the way through to Kane Richards and Marcus Marshall up front and we are delighted with the win - it is a great afternoon for us.

“It was difficult after losing Lewis late on and they threw the kitchen sink at us, but we are extremely pleased with the way the entire squad performed. We said right at this start of the campaign that this season is going to be a squad job and we really proved that today.

“We have 22 players signed to the Club, three have gone out on loan and we have called up two of the academy boys with us today in Sam Newell and Kiarn Nyemba as a reward for what they have done in the FA Youth Cup – it is going to be a long season and those who do start games have to retain that shirt as well as they possibly can.”

United made two changes that beat Stafford Rangers in the week as Rev James and Niall Towle dropped to the bench and were replaced by Alex Howes and Marcus Marshall, who made his first start of the season, whilst 16-year-old Nyemba was a named substitute.

Winless all season, Celtic began well and the impressive Nic Evangelinos’ turn and shot was well thwarted by Carr before he did well to block Callum Harris’ effort three minutes later.

Threatening down the flanks in the opening stages, Jonathan Ustabasi had ‘keeper Pierrepont scrambling to palm his goal bound effort over the crossbar after James Ellison’s run and cross down the left yielded the hosts’ best chance of the half, but it was Basford, with their first shot on goal, who scored the only goal of the tie.

Former-Notts County midfielder Alex Howes’ low cross wasn’t cleared with any conviction and the ball fell kindly for Chettle who stabbed home from close range at the second attempt after his initial shot was blocked by Steve O’Halloran.

Charley Doyle then went close to an equaliser minutes before the interval when his header, from Evangelinos’ typically-dangerous corner was flicked just wide as United went in ahead.

With little action to trouble either goalkeeper early in the second period, the match swung in home favour when Carr, booked earlier for a foul on Lewis Salmon, was given his marching orders only ten minutes later after clipping the heels of Ustabasi in a promising position.

The inevitable onslaught commenced as Stalybridge threw all forward in hope to secure only a third point of a poor season so far but found Pierrepont in inspired mood and the ‘keeper did excellently to parry two Evangelinos’ free kicks to safety in the latter stages as he and his robust rearguard sealed a third clean consecutive clean sheet and all three points.

“We had to re-shuffle the pack again when Lewis Carr was dismissed,” Chettle added post-game.

“We tried to keep two people at the top of the pitch as we always try and do. Defensively we were superb, and I am also really pleased for Jordan [Pierrepont] again today who can boast another clean sheet today.”