THE Blues' promotion hopes suffered a big setback against a team with a reputation for upsetting the high-flyers.

After dominating play, they fell to three sucker punches that surely would not have happened a few weeks ago, when the team oozed confidence and good results flowed.

Winsford took the lead on five minutes. Stuart Wellstead collected the ball on halfway and got to the left touchline where his cross was met by a perfect glancing header from Rob Hanley.

However, seven minutes later, the visitors were back on level terms when a long throw-in found Mark Beatty 12 yards out. And although he had his back to the goal, he was given time to turn and shoot into the bottom corner.

The home side came within a whisker of regaining the lead in 25 minutes when Mark Quinn's 25-yard free kick struck the foot of the post. But worse was to come when Beatty was given time and space to head home Adam Pickering's corner.

To their credit, the Blues got straight back into the match four minutes later when Chris Melia was pushed in the back and he converted the penalty.

Quinn was desperately un-lucky again in the 52nd minute when his swerving shot hit the woodwork with supporters shouting for a goal.

The Blues completely dominated the play at this stage but were caught by a breakaway in 64 minutes. Once again it was Beatty whose speculative strike from 35 yards hit a bump that took it over the diving body of Karl Walton.

Winsford continued to press through the closing minutes without troubling Andrew Forsyth in the Mechanics goal.

WINSFORD: Walton; Hutchinson (Booth 69), Chambers, Marsh, Stanton (Hurley 67); Melia, Williams (McCormack 76), Quinn, Wellstead; Hopley, Hanley. Att: 89 Star Man: Mark Quinn, unlucky not to be the matchwinner Next Best: Rob Hanley Team Rating: 2 Match Rating: 3