City quick to recover from FA Cup Penalty exit

City recovered from their agonising midweek FA Cup exit by of seeing off stubborn Stalybridge Celtic 1-0 at a sodden Bower Fold.

Mike Symons’ 64th minute strike from close range was enough for City to snatch a win that extends the unbeaten league run to eight games, leaving the hosts languishing in the relegation zone.

The win sees Carl Heeley’s side, who have not lost in the Vanarama Conference North since late September, rise to seventh in the table.

The visitors made five changes to Wednesday’s starting line-up with Sean Geddes, George Williams and Jordan Murphy all absent from the squad, while Daniel Nti and Wayne Thomas dropped to the bench.

It was City who threatened first, breaking with the blistering pace of Tristan Dunkley, who ran unchallenged from deep inside the City half before crossing to Mike Symons who headed wide of the target after four minutes.

City began to gain the upper hand after 20 minutes and came close after Danny Jackman’s corner from the left fell to Symons inside the six yard area, but his goal-bound header was cleared off the line by Stefan Galinski.

Gaslinski was involved again moments later after he let fly with an audacious first-time strike from distance flew just over Nathan Vaughan’s crossbar with eight minutes left of the half.

City keeper Nathan Vaughan was again in fine form, first beating away Liam Dickinson’s drive from outside the area at the end of the first half, before denying Matty Hughes’s thundering header from Ennis’s pinpoint free kick moments after the restart.

It was the hosts who continued to create chances in a scrappy opening to the second half with the lively Ennis flashing a shot inches wide of Vaughan’s near-post.

But it was the visitors who snatched the decisive goal after patient build-up play culminated in substitute Daniel Nti and Tristan Dunkley combining well with Dunkley crossing for Symons who poached home from close range to give City a 64th minute lead.

The spirited hosts continued to battle and came agonisingly close to forcing home an equaliser after Ennis unleashed a powerful drive that clattered the underside of the crossbar and bounced out after 76 minutes.

But it was City who closed out a win that ensures their pursuit for a place in the play-offs continues.

City boss, Carl Heeley, was impressed with the character his side showed to grind out the result under difficult conditions.

“Stalybridge were desperate to get the game on today because they thought we’d have a hangover from Wednesday’s game, but it just goes to show what great character we’ve got. The pitch was horrible; there was a lot of heavy rain yesterday and they’ve done well to get the game on”, said Heeley.

“We scrapped it out. We did all the ugly things really well. It was an ugly win, but a great three points. You’re not going to have first class pitches and be able to knock it around and win the perfect way, you’ve got to come and defend properly and clear your lines. ”.

Next up for City is the FA Trophy tie against FC Halifax on Tuesday (23rd) at Aggborough - 7.45pm Kick Off

Report by Alex Harris