AFTER five attempts without a league victory, Paul Moore was able to celebrate a first success on Saturday since taking over as Northwich Victoria manager.

And his side were worthy winners too.

They emerged unscathed from Gresley’s best spell, during which Matt Melbourne headed wide from Reece Morris’ cross before the latter prompted Dylan Forth to parry when they attacked next.

Vics took the lead on 35 minutes, when John Bennett’s downward header squirmed past goalkeeper Rob Peet after he had met Stuart McDonald’s centre.

The visitors posed more of a threat in the second half, and Dave Short was unlucky to see his chipped attempt clip the woodwork after he escaped the attention of full-back Jordan Wakeling.

The former Mossley striker was not to be denied though, converting a penalty with confidence two minutes later following Ryan Walker’s foul on a marauding McDonald.

Peet denied Godwin Abadaki a goal on his return to the starting line-up following a two-month injury absence, blocking the forward’s curling shot with a boot after he pounced on an error by Matt Roome.

Morris’ run ended with Forth making a save as the Moatmen, beaten now in four successive league matches, attempted to recover.

Substitute Sam Grouse headed too close to Vics’ number one, while Bennett fired narrowly off-target at the other end.

Grouse also fired high in added time, allowing Moore’s men to record a third straight shut-out.

Gresley | Peet (GK), Wakeling, Egginton (Cobas Ladrero 57), Walker, Barrett, Roome, Browne (Jarvis 75), Morris, King (Grouse 46), Melbourne, Harris Subs not used Hammond, Manship Booked Walker, Melbourne

Vics | Forth (GK), Lawrence, Fitzgerald, Lyndon, Mannion, Bennett, Clarke, McDonald, Short, Gyimah (Pritchard 80), Abadaki (Doran 90) Sub not used Shaw Goals Bennett 35, Short 67 (penalty) Booked McDonald

Referee Andrew Dallison

Attendance 243