WINSFORD United climbed towards mid-table thanks to three points at bottom club Alsager Town on Saturday.

Blues were pushed all the way in the North West Counties League top flight clash, but held on to win a seven-goal thriller.

Daniel Hudson was on target twice, with Scott Taylor and Ryan Mellor also netting as Alsager responded through two Jonathan Jones penalties and a late Josh Crofts strike.

The visitors had the best of the early exchanges with Taylor’s seventh-minute snap shot being saved at the foot of the post.

One minute later Taylor opened the scoring when he drove into the right edge of the box before side-stepping his marker and slamming the ball high into the net from the narrowest of angles.

Ex-Blue Elliott Ledwards’ free kick was scrambled away from the foot of the post and Michael Machin forced a smart save from Dale Latham.

However, new signing Elliot Hull was an important influence in the centre of midfield and on the half hour he threaded an inch-perfect pass to Hudson before leaving home goalkeeper Chris Fletcher no chance.

One minute later it was three with Hull once again the provider, this time releasing Mellor to guide the ball into the bottom left corner.

The hosts hit back on the brink of half time when Jones was given the chance to finish from the spot, sending Latham the wrong way.

He added another five minutes after the interval, this time firing down the middle.

Blues responded with efforts from Lee Duckworth, James Rothwell and Taylor but were put under pressure via a series of free kicks as the hosts sought an equaliser.

And a second from Hudson gave them some breathing space.

The winger collected the ball on the half way line, sprinted away from two defenders and beating another two on the edge of the box before rounding the oncoming Fletcher to dribble into an empty net.

Crofts pulled one back two minutes into added time with a long-range effort, but Blues held on for the points.

Winsford Latham (GK), Seol, Parr (Hibbert 63), Hull, Duckworth, Davies (Jones 60), Taylor, Rothwell, Mellor (Kyle Riley 55), Cook, Hudson Sub not used Sam Riley