Ex-Northern Ireland international Steve Jones struck late to seal a 2-1 win at Maine Road.

A wet and windy afternoon saw Andy Hockenhull make only one change from the comfortable 4-0 derby win over Alsager Town, with new signing Billy Buckley marking his return to the Ramblers with a start.

The game started openly, with both sides committing men forward looking to create attacking opportunities early on.

The first real chance fell to Sean Moscrop in the 16th minute when a dipping strike from just outside the box was saved comfortably by Bruno Da Silva in the Maine Road goal.

The hosts hit the crossbar in the 38th minute when a great Danny Hamlett save saw a rebound fall back out to the striker on the angle, but a wonderful fingertip save from Hamlett tipped the returning shot onto the crossbar and away.

League top scorer Bobbie McDonnell had struggled to get into the game due to the hosts double and triple-teaming him with defenders whenever he got on the ball, yet he still produced Sandbach's best attacking moment on 42 minutes.

Lovely build-up by Buckley and Aaron Knight saw the young forward strike a shot on goal, but a superb sliding block prevented a certain goal and Maine Road survived until halftime.

The hosts took the lead at Brantingham Road with two minutes of the restart, after defensive miscommunication from Sandbach saw an easy tap in for Maine Road.

The Ramblers responded five minutes later through centre half Declan O'Riordan, when he headed home a deep cross from a free kick for his first Sandbach goal this season.

Hockenhull introduced Amadou Doumbouya at half-time to threaten the hosts with some pace in behind the defence, and the young winger immediately became the Ramblers main attacking outlet as he kept threatening the Maine Road defence with his penetrating runs.

Sandbach then ramped up the pressure with 15 minutes to go, as Da Silva was called into action twice in quick succession from McDonnell and Robbie Hatton strikes.

Hockenhull then made one last substitution, replacing Knight with the veteran forward Steve Jones.

The substitution proved to be inspired when after 83 minutes, the ex-Northern Ireland international received the ball just inside the box and steadied himself, before placing a composed finish past Da Silva and into the bottom left corner to put Sandbach ahead.

Doumbouya was then millimetres from extending the advantage when he darted through the Maine Road back line, sat down the final defender with some beautiful skill before firing a low shot off the post.

It rolled agonisingly along the goal line before being collected by a grateful Da Silva. From the resulting counterattack, Danny Hamlett produced a magnificent reflex save with his left foot to prevent a Maine Road equaliser, and the ramblers held on for all 3 points.

Sandbach's next match sees them return home to Hind Heath Road and host Abbey Hey, who are currently fourth in the NWCFL South table after beating Abbey Hulton 3-1.