Michael Fowler’s third goal of the season helped Stockton Town to victory at Ossett United.

The summer addition broke the deadlock in the second half, after a flurry of Stockton opportunities.

Michael Dunwell made one change going into the game from Wednesday’s win over Bridlington Town, bringing Mikey Roberts in for the unavailable Michael Sweet.

It was the Anchors who started the better side, and nearly took the lead after five minutes when a through ball through the middle found its way to Michael Fowler, but his weak effort was met by Joe Green in the Ossett goal.

Stockton kept pushing forward, and in the 16th minute, a dodgy bounce evaded the defender in the box and was controlled by Mikey Roberts in space, but his left footed shot was well-saved by the legs of the ‘keeper.

Ossett’s few chances of the first half were long range efforts that didn’t trouble Callum Roberts in-between the sticks.

Another Stockton opportunity before half-time saw a poor clearance from Ossett’s Jacob McLoughlin fall to Lewis King, whose first time strike from the edge of the area travelled wide.

Half-time: Ossett United 0-0 Stockton Town

It was Ossett who had the first big opportunity of the second half, with a whipped cross from the right-wing evading the Stockton back line, but no Ossett attacker could get a decisive touch on it either.

Stockton’s efforts were rewarded in the 70th minute when Kevin Hayes’ work to create space on the right wing led to a long-shot on goal, which could only be parried by Joe Green straight to the feet of Michael Fowler who tapped it into the net to give the Anchors a well deserved lead.

But even with time ticking, it was still Stockton who were the creating the opportunities and, with five minutes remaining, Kevin Hayes put a good cross into the area which Cameron Painter connected with, but fired his effort over the bar.

It was nearly a second for the Anchors deep into added time when Kevin Hayes beat the offside trap and burst through on goal, but his cut-back across goal was too heavy for Elliott Beddow to meet in the middle.

Full-time: Ossett United 0-1 Stockton Town