Ashby Ivanhoe made five wins on the trot with a 3-2 victory at Stafford Town on Saturday.

Sam Grouse scored twice - including the decisive late third goal - to leave Ashby fourth in the Midland League first division, six points behind leaders Lichfield City.

The win came after both sides were reduced 10 men in the second half.

It was a tough game and Stafford pushed Ivanhoe all the way but a late lob from Grouse sealed the points.

Ivanhoe made a quick start and opened the scoring after nine minutes. Jordan Wilson was first to a loose ball and the keeper took him down but Grouse was there to tap home.

The hosts equalised before the break with a cross-cum-shot from the right hand side.

Ashby then had multiple chances before the break to go ahead, but efforts from Ross McGarry and Jake Conkay went wide, and the keeper made a quality save from a Liam Donaghy free kick.

But Stafford took the lead straight after half-time but Ashby were back level after 57 minutes when Grouse played in Donaghy down the left hand side. He drilled his cross along the front of the goal and Jordan Wilson got his toe to it, just ahead of the defender.

Ivanhoe were on top and pushing as Macauley Holmes made a dashing run forward, took a loose touch and lunged, missing the ball and the man - but was still shown a red card.

Stafford made it 10 apiece five minutes later as their centre back was shown a second yellow card for a high foot on Grouse.

Ashby had a big penalty shout turned down as it looked like Wilson was hauled down in the area, moments later he had a great chance to score but put it just wide.

The decisive moment came three minutes from time when Jack Samples, who returned from a injury, played a sublime ball over the top for Grouse to run onto and lob the keeper from the edge of the area.