By Jack Danby
Louis Dodds scored the only goal as Hanley Town beat Staffordshire rivals Uttoxeter Town to go back top of the Midland Premier Division.
Dodds’ goal came on the hour mark when he reacted quickest to a dropped cross by the Uttoxeter ‘keeper to bend his effort into the far corner.
Chances came few and far between in the first half, with the best one falling to Reece Jones when he planted a header straight at the ‘keeper from Charlie Walford’s cross.
Hanley started the second half much better, Jayden Cotterill sent in a teasing cross and Dodds glanced his header just wide of the post.
Moments after Hanley’s goal it could have been two, this time it was Jones with the cross and Chris Dagnall in the box, but he could not direct his header on target.
On top of the result, a nice moment for Hanley was the return of Aaron Cole as a late substitute after he had been out injured since the opening league game.
Cole made an immediate impact as he had a couple of strikes at goal, including one into the side netting during stoppage time.
Player-manager Carl Dickinson was full of praise for Cole after the game, as he told the Club’s media how pleased he is to have him back in action.
He said: “I am so happy for him. Whilst he has been out, he has come to every training session, and he has travelled to away games.
“Those are the type of people you need at the football club. I am delighted for him, and he is going to be a big player for us from now until the end of the season.”
Hanley are next in action on Tuesday as they make the long trip to Stourport Swifts for another Midland Premier Division clash.