A big game at both ends of the table finished all square as play off chasing Hyde United met relegation threatened Stafford Rangers. 

The visitors will have been pleased with their first half performance as they sat deep and frustrated the home side and crowd and they had the better of the opportunities on the break. 

On 20 minutes a well timed block by Brad Roscoe stopped the visitors from taking the lead as Connor Heath cut inside from the right and found Sean Cooke. 

Hyde’s opportunities came from wide and when they found full back Harry Ditchfield he whipped in dangerous crosses into the box that Stafford struggled to defend. Matt Fearnley coming closest with a header on 40 minutes. 

It was Stafford who took the lead on 52 minutes as a hopeful ball forward over the top of the Hyde defence was chased down by Kaiman Anderson who ran through on goal and slotted past the onrushing Hyde keeper Jordan Eastham. 

Hyde managed the unlock the stubborn resistance of the visitors and grab their equaliser on 72 minutes. Jack Redshaw hung a cross towards the back post and substitute Manasse Mampala was there with the bullet header into the back of the net. 

There were no further goals in this one as Stafford ran down the clock well to frustrate the home side.