WINSFORD had never heard of their Saturday match winner before their Wednesday training session.

Indeed, 18-year-old Paul McCormack simply turned up and asked if he could join in.

But he created a big enough impression with manager Dave Twite that he was signed on there and then and put on the bench for a match between two sides still on the fringe of the promotion battle.

McCormack was ushered into action with 11 minutes remaining - and became an instant hero.

He was put through by Rob Hanley, took a couple of paces forward and unleashed a devastating shot that left Flixton custodian Paul Daly helpless.

Flixton, higher in the North West Counties Second Division table than Winsford, named Tony Carroll, the former Hyde United and Northwich Vics striker, who was the league's leading scorer with Mossley last term, in their front line and ex-Macclesfield man Steve Tobin in midfield.

Blues were under constant pressure throughout the second half and only a superb rearguard action, led jointly by centre-backs Nigel Booth and Dave Chambers, saw them through.

United almost went behind when full-back Ryan Gilligan shot just wide, but they went ahead in the eighth minute when Hanley scored with a cross-shot from the left.

Neil Harrison was the main culprit of missed chances and a Chris Melia header was scrambled off the line.

Jamie Williams was also denied by a defender on the line when he met a Martin Atwell free kick with a powerful header.

But Flixton levelled before the break when Carroll, who has a history of scoring against the Blues, punished a rare defensive mistake by darting forward to meet an Anthony Hargreaves centre with a bullet header.

The second period saw a major change in the balance of play with Carroll and Hargreaves repeatedly testing the United defence.

Clearly, United needed something extraordinary to happen and it was Twite's gamble on wild card McCormack that proved the ace.

After his wonder strike, Winsford were back on the defensive but they clung on to a win that breathes new life into their campaign.

UNITED: Conkie; Stanton, Chambers, Booth, Wellstead; Melia, Williams (Marsh 68), Atwell, Harrison; Hanley (Osborne 84), Hurley (McCormack 79). Attendance: 60 Star Man: Nigel Booth, defiant display Next Best: Dave Chambers Team Rating: 3 Match Rating: 3