By Ashley Houghton
Nantwich Town came out on top in a seven-goal thriller at the Weaver Stadium as they extended their unbeaten run to four.
A Josh Lane brace and goals by Darren Moss and Sean Cooke gave the Dabbers a 4-1 lead.
Danny South had given The Steels the lead, and the visitors fought back at the end when Jordan Thewlis grabbed two late goals.
But Jimmy Quinn’s men held firm to move up to sixth place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.
South gave Stocksbridge a shock lead after just three minutes after he headed Spencer Goff’s cross in from six yards.
The Dabbers fought back and missed two chances, first Mark Beesley headed Si Everall’s knock back over and then Cooke saw his 15 yard strike well saved.
The game’s turning point came when Steels were reduced to ten men when Nick Swirad felled Everall who was through on goal.
Nantwich were level moments later as Lane headed Cooke’s corner into the top left hand corner.
From then on it was all Nantwich and the lead was gained on 22 minutes when Lane headed another Cooke corner home this time into the top right hand corner.
The lead was doubled on the half hour as another Cooke delivery was this time met by Moss who glanced home unmarked.
Steels started the second half brightly and Thewlis went close to equalising on a couple of occasions.
Cooke scored what turned out to be the winner 20 minutes from time as Everall set the ball for the former Crewe Alex youth to smash home from 20 yards.
To Stocksbridge’s credit they never gave up and worked their way back into the game six minutes from time as Thewlis neatly finished Xavier Parisi’s long ball.
With two minutes remaining Steels gave The Dabbers a late scare as Thewlis slotted Cole Payne’s cross into the bottom corner but Nantwich held firm to gain valuable first home win since August.
Man of the match: Josh Lane
Attendance: 201
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