The Bullets' positive start to the season continued this afternoon with a hard fought 3-1 win over Maine Road in the rain at Wood Park.

The Bullets were forced into two changes from Tuesday night's 2-0 win at Stafford Town and began the game slowly as the visitors from south Manchester started on the front-foot, creating the first chance of the game on ten minutes, but the effort was a wild one and went well wide.

The visitors continued to boss the possession, but the game's next chance went to the hosts when Ryan Malone cut inside from the left, but his effort was straight down the keeper's throat who made a comfortable save.

The opening goal came on fifteen minutes and it went to Maine Road. Hunaish Essa received the ball on the right, but he was robbed by the excellent Maine Road left-back Ismail Suleiman who confidently dispatched his shot beyond Joey Oldham.

The goal brought the hosts to life, who began to press. On twenty-five minutes a lovely free-kick from Malone saw Mamudo Dabo flick wide. But three minutes later, the Bullets were level, and Ryan Malone was at the heart of things.

Malone delivered another free-kick into the Maine Road box, and Luke Vayro headed home his second of the season to bring the Bullets level.

And five minutes before half-time, the Bullets went in front, perhaps fortuitously.

Some excellent pressing by the home side saw Maine Road play the ball back to keeper Da Silva whose attempted clearance hit Ben Darby who was closing him down, the ball bouncing over the line to put the Bullets 2-1 up.

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Half-time: Alsager Town 2 Maine Road 1

The second period began in much the same vein as the first, with Maine Road dominating possession. However, the first chances of the half fell to the hosts.

Firstly, Hunaish Essa did well to get into the box but perhaps did too much and his effort was easily saved by Da Silva. And then an effort from Mamudo Dabo was deflected onto the bar.

But then it was Maine Road's chance to press, and they went close to an equaliser, but their front man fired wide when he really should've scored.

As the game began to get stretched, the Bullets almost made it 3-1 when a Ben Darby effort was deflected over the bar for a corner.

The Bullets finally put the game to bed with ten minutes to go when Ryan Malone won a penalty after being pushed in the back. Skipper Jordan Stafford coolly put away his second spot-kick of the week to make it 3-1.

The visitors continued to boss possession, but aside from one very good save, Bullets' keeper Joey Oldham had little to do.

So, six points from a possible nine for Brian Wilson's side, and a very positive start to the campaign.

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Full-time: Alsager Town 3 Maine Road 1

Starting XI: Joey Oldham, James Forrest, Nathan Barry, Luke Vayro, Craig Sigley, Jordan Stafford (C), Hunaish Essa, Matthew France, Mamudo Dabo, Ben Darby, Ryan Malone

Subs: Finlay Phillips, Tyreek McCallum, Joe Holt

Man of the Match: Luke Vayro - another rock-solid defensive display, and another goal

Attendance: 68