LEE Duckworth praised his players’ ‘never say die’ attitude after they extended a winning sequence to six matches on Saturday.
Blues were twice pegged back by their hosts, only for front man Jordan Johnson’s perfectly-executed lob to settle the outcome early in the second half.
This is now the Barton Stadium outfit’s best run of results in more than six years, since securing nine victories in a row under Chris Willcock in the 2010-2011 season.
“We’ll need to see more of that determination when we play Runcorn Linnets on Monday,” said the player-manager afterwards.
“It was a great winner by JJ, but all the lads played a part.
“Even with five or so missing, we’ve again showed we have strength in depth.”
Sam Parr leapt highest to meet Sam Howell’s cross with a deft header to put the visitors ahead after three minutes.
Johnson and Howell both had efforts charged down, while at the other end returning goalkeeper Andy Jones survived a scare when Matthew Morgan’s speculative lob dipped narrowly over.
Maine Road did draw level on 17 minutes though, when striker Connor Hughes guided the ball home at the end of a swift counter-attack.
Parity did not last long though, and Winsford midfielder James Rothwell speared a spectacular shot out of custodian Ryan Livesey’s reach to restore the visitors’ lead.
Parr’s attempt flashed wide before Maine Road equalised for a second time when Matthew Wilson finished smartly following Calum Broady’s initial burst forward from midfield.
Blues suffered a blow when Danny Hudson, making his first start since August following a spell out injured, limped off the field before the break.
A close contest’s decisive moment arrived after an hour when, after Rothwell had won back possession in the middle of the field, full-back Josh Perry joined the attack on an overlap.
His pass inside reached Johnson, who chipped Livesey with the most delicate of contacts.
Blues were better this time at protecting their lead, and almost added to it when Livesey stretched fully to turn away Duckworth’s curling free kick.
Parr smuggled a header of the line before his action-packed afternoon ended early when referee Richard Holmes booked him for a second time with four minutes left.
Duckworth added: “At half-time we asked the lads to be more compact, and to force them to attack down the sides.
“We didn’t help ourselves in the first half, but in the second the lads showed their determination to keep this run going.”
Maine Road | Livesey (GK), Senior, Tinker (Blundell 80), Mason, Edwards, Broady, Breslin, Morgan, Wilson (O’Brien 69), Hughes, Roe Subs not used Barnett, Ormrod, Clooney Goals Hughes 17, Wilson 28 Booked Mason, Hughes
Winsford | Jones (GK), Perry, Duckworth, Rothwell, Parr, Foster, Hudson (Hatton 36), Howell (Middleton 61), Riley, Johnson, Collins (Hull 80) Subs not used none Goals Parr 6, Rothwell 22, Johnson 60 Booked Parr, Middleton Sent off Parr
Referee Richard Holmes
Attendance 101
Further post-match reaction from Winsford United:
Real tough game but the players ground it out, mis-kick from @JJ_Harry11 for the win!
— Lee Duckworth (@Ducko1981) February 11, 2017
Boys are flyingggg ✈️ @WinsfordUnited 💙
— Ky Riley (@KyRiley9) February 11, 2017
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