Cheadle Heath Nomads left Cheshire with all three points after a tepid display from Sandbach United.

A cold afternoon in Sandbach was the setting for an important league meeting, as Nomads started the game six points behind their Cheshire hosts with a game in hand.

The Ramblers were still missing midfielder Niall Cope through a persistent foot injury, so the returning Callum Evans made his second debut in blue and white, this time against his former club.

Brian Barton was given the captain's armband at Hind Heath Road and ex-Sandbach player Kieran O'Connell started for the Nomads.

The game started with intensity and attacking flair, in similar fashion to the previous league meeting between the sides, when Sandbach ran out 5-3 winners at the ProSeal Stadium.

After a positive first five minutes, Paul Taylor fired a dangerous cross into the box from near the corner flag, which was cleared by the Nomads. Sandbach retreated to try and halt the counterattack, but Kyle Foley smartly floated a cross towards the onrushing Kieran Alley to head the visitors in front.

Foley had a hand in Cheadle's second only 13 minutes later as he took advantage of a loose ball in the Ramblers penalty area to nip past Eric Merner, who brought him down and conceded a penalty. Daniel McLaughlin slotted his spot kick into the bottom right corner to double the Nomads lead.

Cheadle continued to create constant chances through intense pressing, which caused many problems for the hosts as they just couldn't retain the ball for any length of time.

After a dominant first 45 minutes from the visitors, they entered the break two goals up, and could have been further ahead if not for some strong saves by Merner.

Sandbach started the second half in much stronger fashion and were on top for the opening 15 minutes until a mistake from Merner gifted Jordan Milne a third goal for Nomads.

A mis-kick from the keeper sent the ball right into the path of the visiting player, who passed into an unguarded net with ease.

Sandbach created a lifeline for themselves eight minutes later as an excellent set piece from Taylor picked out wing-back Liam Fitzpatrick, who tenaciously worked his way into the box before being cut down by a poor Nomads tackle. Captain Brian Barton unerringly placed his penalty into the bottom left corner.

Cheadle looked to consolidate their defence and kept a disjointed and desperate Sandbach attack at bay for the remaining minutes of the game and proved more than deserving of the win by the time the full-time whistle was blown.

"A disappointing performance by Sandbach saw them lose for the third game in a row, and we caught up with Barton for his views after the game.

"We started very slow and were chasing the game after 15-20 minutes. Off the ball I think is where we struggled today.

"We have had some individual mistakes – myself included as I missed a penalty the other week that would have changed the game.

"But when you're on a bit of a bad run you have to try and keep the team together. We don't want people falling out in the changing room, we've got to keep the morale high and then results will come."

Sandbach now look ahead to their next fixture; an away trip to 20th-placed St Martins as they look to turn around their form in the final few games of the season.

Sandbach: Eric Merner, Callum Chapman, Liam Fitzpatrick, Sean Sherwood, Rory Roberts, Jack Marrow, Callum Evans, Stan Tatters, Brian Barton (C), Paul Taylor, George West. Subs: Lewis Barker, Sheikh Islam, Jack Hart, Ryan Rogers, Michael Conlon.

Cheadle Heath Nomads: Adam Rigby, Robert Wallis, Jake Wright, Kieran O'Connell, Thomas Greenfield (C), Thomas Horner, Jordan Milne, Joshua Tinker, Daniel McLaughlin, Kyle Foley, Kieran Alley. Subs: Craig Coates, Jack Taylor, Harry Shipton, George Blackwell, George Howarth.