1874 NORTHWICH completed a double over Abbey Hey on Saturday, though the contest ended sourly when four players – two from each team – were sent off.

The visitors had secured maximum points before a fracas in the closing stages prompted the dismissals of both Danny Thomas and substitute Dave Short.

Ian Street’s men have now accumulated five red cards this season.

They took the lead inside five minutes, Mike Brandon intercepting a back-pass before slotting past goalkeeper Ross Heywood.

That advantage was bigger when Paul Connor nodded in a rebound after Abbey Hey’s custodian had clawed Neil Chappell’s powerful header into the wide man’s path.

He kept out 1874 after that, denying Chappell again after he raced onto Connor’s assist before diving bravely at Brandon’s feet.

Brandon made it 3-0 early in the second period, angling a drive under Heywood after Matthew Ward had split the home team’s defence.

Ward himself added a fourth goal shortly afterwards, drilling into the net with power from the edge of the penalty area.

Sam Freakes shot wide at the other end before Lee Duckworth twice went close to scoring a first goal for 1874, first when Heywood parried a direct free kick and then when a goal-bound header was diverted to safety by a defender.

Short’s attempt hit an upright and Connor’s header was saved before that ugly finale.

1874 Conkie (GK), Connor (Crofts 76), Woolley, Thomas, Mitchell, Chappell, Beadle (Short 68), Jones, Brandon, Ward (Abdullah 74), Duckworth Subs not used Fossdyke (GK), Bowyer Attendance 154 

Additional reporting by Garry Clarke