MIDDLEWICH’S chances of reaching the JA Walton Challenge Cup last eight were boosted by a victory over Tarporley on Saturday.

The Witches stretched an unbeaten run to five games thanks to goals from Chris Lunn, Stuart Tulloch, Matty Jamieson and Sam O’Sullivan, rising to third in their group.

Jamieson had an effort cannon off the crossbar early on, before Lunn put the hosts ahead.

Substitute Tulloch added another shortly after the interval and, after the visitors pulled a goal back, Jamieson and O’Sullivan netted in quick succession to seal victory.

Middlewich custodian Martyn East was forced into a smart save at the other end, while young subsitute James Smith twice went close for the Witches.

First, his dazzling run prompted goalkeeper Dave McNeil to produce a fine stop before the visitors' net-minder repeated the trick from a close-range header.