A ruthless finishing display from the league leaders saw a spirited Sandbach side harshly lose out 6-2.

With the blockbuster clash between two in-form sides turning out to be the only NWCFL match on after a week of bad weather, Stockport enjoyed a larger-than-usual crowd as they hosted the Ramblers, who themselves were looking for their fourth win in a row.

With Stockport widely touted as favourites to win the division, Sandbach manager Declan Swan knew his players would be facing their toughest opponent yet as their search to re-enter the playoff battle continued.

The Ramblers travelling squad was depleted by an outbreak of illness in the days leading up to the match, as Niall Cope and Josh Klein-Davies were ruled out. Tyler Barnes remains on the side-lines with an injury, whilst Lewis Barker, Louis Johnson, Brian Barton and Liam Fitzpatrick were also among the notable names unable to participate.

After a strong start to the contest by the visitors, it was Stockport who took the lead through Darren McLaughlin in the 27th minute.

A foul by Rory Roberts meant the referee pointed to the spot, and the striker dispatched his penalty into the bottom right corner to give the home side the lead, slightly against the run of play.

The hosts doubled their advantage five minutes later with their next attack, as a corner was met by the head of Michael Raynes and trickled over the line to put the league leaders two goals ahead.

Robbie Hatton pulled a deserved goal back for Sandbach in the 44th minute, after an excellent passing move culminated in a defence-splitting pass by Stanley Tatters to Hatton, who finished it well under the goalkeeper Joshua Schofield.

Stockport then caught Sandbach asleep directly from the restart, as Will Calligan found ample time and space to drive into the Ramblers box before dispatching an excellent finish into the bottom right corner.

Sandbach started the second half on fire, testing the Stockport defence before finally breaking through with the best goal of the game on 57 minutes.

George West controlled an aerial ball superbly before cutting onto his left foot and unleashing a wonderful curling strike into the top left corner, leaving Schofield a mere spectator.

In similar fashion to Stockport's third goal, they scored their fourth moments after conceding as they again took advantage of some sleepy Sandbach defending.

A loose ball was slotted in by Scott McGowan from close range to restore their two-goal advantage.

Sandbach had more than played their part for the best part of 70 minutes in what was a fairly even contest regarding possession and the number of chances created, but the Greater Manchester side had scored with every shot taken in the match until a McGowan header on 73 minutes went just wide of the post.

Toby Green then scored Stockport's fifth in the 75th minute, as he took aim from distance and Ramblers goalkeeper Eric Merner could only parry the powerful shot into his own net, as the hosts put the game beyond reach for Sandbach.

The game petered out from there, before Stockport grabbed a sixth with the last action of the game, with Ben Darby nodding into an empty net from close range after Merner saved a low effort into his path.

Stockport were the deserved winners at the full-time whistle, although the score-line was harsh on a Sandbach side who matched their opponents for the majority of the match but ended up on the receiving end of a brutal display of clinical finishing.

Sandbach remain in 6th place and level on points with the last two playoff spots, and now wait until a home Boxing Day fixture against Barnton.