WINSFORD United head into Saturday’s FA Cup preliminary round clash at Ramsbottom United with a striker in red-hot form.

Sam Madeley had a productive weekend in front of goal as Blues recorded mixed results and he will be hoping to carry that over into a clash with higher-ranked opposition.

Lee Duckworth’s side make the trip to a Rams side who ply their trade in the BetVictor Northern Premier North West Division – one tier above themselves – with the aim of causing an upset.

To do that, they will hope Madeley continues to improve upon the form that has yielded four goals in his past two games.

His hat-trick was key to their first home victory of the season in a goal-fest against Squires Gate on Saturday, with Blues holding on to win 5-4 after being given a huge late scare.

Two strikes from Madeley and one from Nathan Cotterell had the hosts 3-0 up at half time, with the former completing his treble before the visitors pulled two goals back through Joshua Westwood and James Boyd

Obi Anouro seemed to have made the game safe for Winsford and while Westwood and Joseph Mullin struck in injury time to set up a grandstand finish, they eventually held on.

Unfortunately, however, their to-and-fro battle on Saturday seemed to take too much out of them as they fell to a home defeat on Monday evening.

An 86th-minute winner from Martin Stanyer was enough to give Hanley Town a 2-1 victory over Duckworth’s side.

Blues had led through Madeley’s opener, but that advantage lasted barely a minute as it was quickly cancelled out by Chris Budrys.

Following Saturday’s FA Cup game, Winsford are in action on Bank Holiday Monday when they visit Congleton Town in the North West Counties League Premier Division.

Both games kick off at 3pm.

Meanwhile, Middlewich Town had a weekend to forget in the Cheshire League Premier Division as they continue to look for their first win of the season.

They were beaten 5-0 at home by unbeaten league leaders Congleton VR on Saturday before going down 3-0 at another high-flying side in the shape of Blacon Youth on Tuesday.

The Witches are not in action on Saturday – their quest for a first victory resumes on Wednesday when they welcome Knutsford to Seddon Street, kick off 6.30pm.