Written by Jay Rowland

A brace from Joshua Klein-Davies helped Sandbach United to a 3-1 win at Cheadle Heath Nomads.

After a dismal run of form that saw the Ramblers lose 6 games in a row, manager Declan Swan was hoping the previous weekend's win in the FA Vase over Step 5 opposition Kimberley Miners Welfare would be the catalyst for improved results.

Tyler Barnes and Harry Cain, both scorers of the Vase fixture, retained their places in the starting line-up.

A bright start was what Swan would have wanted from his team, and that's exactly what he got when Cain opened the scoring in the second minute.

Fantastic holdup play from Klein-Davies kept the ball just inside the Nomads box before he released Cain, who took the ball in his stride before striking a low effort into the bottom right corner, leaving ex-Sandbach goalkeeper Danny Hamlett.

Sandbach continued their dominance after the goal, and Robbie Hatton had his head in his hands after receiving a layoff from Klein-Davies in a great position but shot straight at Hamlett.

Nomads equalised against the run of play in the 33rd minute when Daniel Byrnes' looping header flew over Sandbach goalkeeper Eric Merner and dropped into the back of the net, drawing the home side level. Sandbach reacted well but couldn't find a way back in front before the referee blew his whistle for half-time.

Sandbach almost took the lead in dramatic fashion less than a minute after the restart, when Cain's audacious overhead kick sent the ball wide of the goal. However, in the 47th minute, Sandbach restored their advantage in some style.

Merner spotted the run of Klein-Davies and found him with a sublime pass, matched in quality by the control from the striker who then bore down on Hamlett's goal. He took it past the goalkeeper before curling a shot with his weaker left foot past the recovering Nomads defenders and into the net before wheeling away in celebration.

Three minutes later, Merner demonstrating his shot-stopping prowess with a remarkable double save, parrying away Arek Pociask's venomous shot before clawing away the rebound with a superb one-handed stop.

Sandbach resumed their onslaught on the Nomads goal and eventually scored their third through Klein-Davies once more in the 67th minute.

After good play between Barnes and fullback Callum Chapman, the latter's cross awkwardly struck a combination of Hamlett and the post before bouncing to the well-positioned Klein-Davies, who smashed a half-volley into the net to put the game almost out of sight for the hosts.

Hamlett had to be on form in the dying seconds of the game to keep out a vicious long-range effort from substitute Niall Cope, before the referee blew his whistle for the final time and confirmed Sandbach's first league win in October.

Swan spoke to us after the game, saying "It was a fantastic battle but I thought we could have won by more in the end. Our second half in particular, the work-rate especially was absolutely fantastic. It's been a difficult month with injuries and suspensions but it's a good win. We can celebrate today but then it's a quick turnaround to Ashville on Tuesday".

The Ramblers now host Ashville on Tuesday 1st November at Hind Heath Road.