1874 NORTHWICH concluded the campaign on Saturday with a victory over relegated Nelson that ought to have been more emphatic than the score-line suggests.

Joe Woolley put them in front in the sixth minute, cutting inside from the right before firing past the Admirals’ goalkeeper Luke Raybould.

A second goal followed after half an hour when full-back Jack Lever drilled low into the net from distance, with the help of an upright, after venturing forward.

In between, the hosts had gone close when Taylor Kennerley nodded off-target while Raybould held onto another attempt from Woolley.

A defender blocked the wide-man’s effort before the break, while Sam Hind guided Tom Bailey’s cross narrowly wide.

The pattern was similar in the second period, when Raybould was equal to headers from both Hind and Woolley.

Substitute Adam Whitlock rattled the crossbar with a volley from an acute angle, while a Nelson defender smuggled Ryan Mitchell’s header off the line.

Woolley fired high after bursting clear, then Raybould stopped Whitlock’s next attempt.

At the other end, Nelson had prompted Mitchell and Lee Jones to make last-ditch clearances before Cameron Lancaster steered through a crowded six-yard box to score a deserved goal with 10 minutes left.

Raybould completed an impressive afternoon’s work when he pulled off a remarkable one-handed save to keep out Scott McGowan’s deflected shot in added time.

1874 | Robertson (GK), Connor (McGowan 73), Lever, Mitchell, Mark Jones, Edwards (Bove 71), Joe Woolley, Lee Jones, Bailey, Hind, Kennerley (Whitlock 46) Sub not used Clayton Goals Joe Woolley 6, Lever 30

Nelson | Raybould (GK), Wolfenden, Anderson, Lancaster, Burrows (Jenkinson 46), Boardman, Lloyd, Grogan, Crowther, Hoskin, Howarth Subs not used none Goal Lancaster 80

Referee Barry Lamb

Attendance 199

Match report by Garry Clarke