STAR MATCH: Stoke Lane Athletic 'A' 2 Frampton Rangers 1: Stoke Lane picked up three valuable points to edge further away from the drop zone.

Aidan Bell, on his return from a lengthy injury absence, opened the scoring early on before Gareth Bradnock doubled the lead shortly before the break.

A late penalty from Frampton's Blaine Skuse set up an interesting finish but Stoke Lane held on for a precious victory.

Stoke Lane started brightly and snatched the lead just four minutes in. Good build-up play by Ricky Young and Josh Williams led to Bell rounding the advancing keeper to calmly slot the ball into the net.

After a long period of inactivity in both goalmouths, Stoke Lane fashioned another chance, but this time Williams was denied by fantastic goalkeeping.

Williams managed to lose his marker and latch on to a good through ball, but Adam Bryant was quickly off his line and bravely spread himself at the feet of his opponent.

A few minutes later, Williams was denied again. Strong play by Bradnock led to a cross into the box, where the ball found its way to Williams, but a Frampton defender got across quickly to block his attempted shot.

Bradnock made it 2-0 to Stoke Lane five minutes before half-time. After a rare Frampton counter-attack broke down, Bell played the ball in behind the Rangers rearguard for Bradnock to score with a clinical finish from 18 yards.

Frampton almost pulled a goal back a minute later with their first effort at goal when Ashley Kendall released a monstrous strike from 40 yards that was brilliantly saved by James McKimm, who had to leap high to turn the ball over the crossbar.

The opening 10 minutes of the second half followed the same pattern as most of the first half, with neither team able to dominate.

Stoke Lane nearly made it 3-0 midway through the half following a corner. The Frampton box resembled a pinball machine as they repeatedly failed to clear their lines and frantically blocked shot after shot before Young eventually flashed the ball just wide.

Despite the lack of creativity at either end, Frampton's Scott Bailey and Stoke's Josh Parry both defended effectively and seldom let the opposing strikers get the better of them.

As time started to run out, Stoke Lane had a chance to seal the win. The impressive Tom Street played another pinpoint pass to Zach Gaston, who brought the ball down magnificently and sped through on goal. Bryant came out to meet Gaston just inside the area and, although the midfielder rounded the keeper, his touch was too heavy and the ball ran harmlessly behind for a goal kick.

A great ball down the line from George Scott set Bradnock surging to the by-line, where he delivered a perfect low cross for Gaston, who failed to make contact at the near post.

Frampton were again denied by a superb save from McKimm after the visitors won a free-kick on the edge of the box. Skuse thumped the dead ball at goal and McKimm stretched up and managed to tip the effort over the bar.

With five minutes left, Frampton were awarded a penalty when George Smalldridge was brought down inside the area. Skuse stepped up and found the top corner of the net with a sweet strike to make it 2-1 and set up a tense finish.

The game, which had largely been a dour one, came to life in the last five minutes as Frampton surged forward in search of the equaliser, And had it not been for Josh Rawnsley's inch-perfect sliding tackle a few yards from his own goal, they might have got it.

Stoke Lane: James McKimm, Dan Stevens, Josh Parry, Jed Sheppard, Jack Tullett, Zach Gaston, Josh Williams, Beau Bateman, Ricky Young, Gareth Bradnock, Aidan Bell, Josh Rawnsley, George Scott, Tom Street.

Frampton Rangers: Adam Bryant, Scott Bailey, George Moms, Ashley Baber, John Humphreys, Jake MacMillan, George Smalldridge, Ashley Kendall, David Sims-Burgess, Toby Waterman, Callum Hawkins, Blaine Skuse, Tom Williams, Luke Naish, Ross Bell.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH:Gareth Bradnock (Stoke Lane): Played with considerable pace and strength, was always a handful for the Frampton defenders and scored a well-taken goal.