A pulsating second half saw Sandbach United score 5 goals to beat Cheadle Heath Nomads 5-3.

Looking to build from the victory over Wythenshawe Amateurs at the weekend, Andy Hockenhull selected a strong side to travel to Manchester.

Billy Buckley was unavailable for the fixture so was replaced by Kallam Boyle, but otherwise the starting squad was unchanged.

Nomads started the game well and opened the scoring through former Sandbach midfielder Callum Evans.

The midfielder found space to shoot from the edge of the box, and Danny Hamlett saw the low shot squirm underneath his body and into the net.

The Ramblers, sporting their yellow and blue kit under the floodlights, tried to respond immediately and won a freekick through Brian Barton shortly after going behind.

Bobbie McDonnell stepped up and sent a shot crashing off the near post and rolling across the goalmouth before going out for a goal kick.

A flurry of chances came for Sandbach at the 25th minute mark, as strong saves and defensive blocks denied McDonnell, Jack Hart, Stanley Tatters and Robbie Hatton from scoring.

For all the visitors dominance, Nomads always looked threatening on the counter and proved that after 30 minutes.

A swift counterattack ended with Kieran Alley driving into the box from the left and curling an effort into the bottom right corner.

Sandbach's deficit was halved three minutes after the second half kicked off, as Evans conceded a freekick in a dangerous position and received a booking.

McDonnell stepped up from a similar position to his earlier effort, but this time found the back of the net wonderfully.

In the 52nd minute, Sandbach hit the post for the third time. Barton jostled in front of his marker to divert a low Boyle cross onto the near post before the keeper collected the loose ball.

Nomads quickly countered up the other end and restored their two-goal advantage through substitute Kyle Foley, who took advantage of the space available to him and fired high past Hamlett's right glove.

Captain Chris Rowntree scored in the 67th minute to keep Sandbach hopes alive. Barton again caused problems in the Nomads defence and fired an excellent strike across goal matched only by the superb one-handed save from the goalkeeper. However, the rebound fell to Rowntree who made no mistake from 8 yards.

Sandbach thought they had levelled the scores 5 minutes later as a Sean Moscrop shot was parried back into danger, before McDonnell saw the ball get trapped under his feet before he could pull the trigger and a Nomads defender hooked it clear.

Substitute Aaron Knight, returning to the team after his absence at the weekend, was truly an impact substitution and changed the game following his introduction.

He scored the equaliser in the 76th minute after letting a long throw into the box come over his shoulder, before striking a half-volley off the far post and in.

Declan O'Riordan produced the goal of the night four minutes after, as he put Sandbach ahead for the first time in the match.

After a corner into the box was cleared only as far as the defender, he side-footed an exquisite volley into the far side netting and wheeled away in celebration, with a goal any striker would be proud of.

Knight then ensured the victory in stoppage time as he brilliantly intercepted a pass out to the right back, before driving forward towards goal.

He beat two defenders with tricky footwork before firing left past the onrushing goalkeeper to confirm another three points for Sandbach.

The Ramblers now have two consecutive away Cup fixtures, as they travel to Eynesbury Rovers in Cambridgeshire on Saturday 23rd October in the FA Vase, before facing League One opposition in Crewe Alexandra as part of the Cheshire Cup the following Tuesday.