Hanley Town withstood second half pressure from local rivals Kidsgrove Athletic at the NBe Brokers Stadium on Tuesday night to remain in the top five in the early Northern Premier League West Division table.

The opening 20+ minutes it was the Twyford & Cooper show. In the first minute Kidsgrove's K. Cooper fired a shot which flew just wide of the Hanley post. A few minutes later the same player was put through on goal, lobbed Town keeper Knight, the ball slowly bouncing wide though with Hanley full-back Reece Jones and Grove forward B. Harrison in a foot race, which Jones won to hook the ball clear.

At the other end Hanley's Jake Twyford hit a shot from the edge of the Grove penalty area, Grove keeper Unsworth diving to his left to parry clear. Goves K. Cooper then hit an 18 yarder that took a wicked deflection which Town keeper Lucas Knight pulled off a superb reaction save. Jake Twyford smashed a shot through a ruck of players after a poor clearance from a corner which Grove keeper Unsworth, again diving to his left to parry clear.

Hanley then struck twice in six minutes. First Lewis Porter hit an 12 yard angled volley back across goal and into the net. On 44 minutes a defensive mix-up between defender and keeper allowed Hanley's Devante Ramsey to latch onto the loose ball to tap home his first goal for the club.

Half-Time:
Hanley Town 2 - 0 Kidsgrove Athletic:

Throughout the second half Kidsgrove put the home defence under extreme pressure and deservedly pulled a goal back on the hour mark. A cross whipped into the Town penalty area by Grove substitute A.Leather which was met on the volley 6 yards out by K. Cooper and into the top corner of the net.

Hanley's re-shuffled back five were immense in dealing with Kidsgrove's long ball's into the box and crosses from the flanks, Harrison, Duffas and Thorpe all had headers at goal. Hanley also were a threat at the other end. Devante Ramsey won the foot race with his marker to fire in a shot that was saved by Grove keeper Unsworth for a corner.

Twice Grove's N. Morley surging runs into the Hanley penalty area were halted by last ditch tackles from Town's Kieran Lazanby and Joe Minshall as Kidsgrove pressed for an equaliser. At the other end in the closing minutes Town's Fin Pattison and Corey Muuirhead had shots blocked.

Davante Ramsey scored his first goal for Hanley Town in the local derby on Tuesday night.

Photo By Sharon Shorthouse Photos:

Kyle Stubbs put in a Man Of The Match Performance on Tuesday night against Kidsgrove Athletic: Kyle is Sponsored By Customer 1 Logistics & Howdens Winsford:

Photo By Sharon Shorthouse Photos: