West Didsbury and Chorlton 2 Squires Gate 3

The visitors were 2-0 up at half-time, and although West Didsbury equalised with two goals in two minutes, Ric Seear netted the winner shortly afterwards.

Gate had the first chance after only 30 seconds but Brett Dawson fired a free-kick over.

The hosts threatened after five minutes, when a flick-on from a throw-in resulted in a header wide.

But it was Dawson who broke the deadlock after 11 minutes, reacting quickest to an underhit back-pass to beat the keeper to the loose ball and tap into an empty net.

West could have equalised on 34 minutes but their striker chose to shoot from a tight angle rather than cutting the ball back in the box.

Gate would grab a second goal two minutes before half-time, when good pressing resulted in Jamie Gibson nicking the ball off a defender’s toes and firing past the keeper.

The home side would grab a goal back on 56 minutes, when Nia Bayunu headed home from a long throw into the box. And they quickly added a second when Rick Gleave fired low past keeper Ben Fletcher from a ball into the box.

But Gate would be back in front with what proved the winner on 64 minutes – and it was a lovely goal involving all of the front three.

Ryan Tanser sent a lovely ball over to Dawson, who controlled and passed for Seear to finish coolly.

The home side pressed for an equaliser late on but Gate stood strong under a barrage of pressure. Mid-table Gate are on the road again in the premier division on Saturday, when they visit Hanley Town.

Mark Ashmore

Gate: Fletcher, Richards, Penswick, Alexander, Bamba, Hall, Gibson, Thornber, Tanser, R.Seear, Dawson. Subs: Carroll, Higham, B.Seear, Noblet, Buchan.