1874 NORTHWICH progressed to the next stage of the FA Vase in relative comfort despite playing more than half of the contest with 10 men.

Defender Adam Bayley was sent off before the break, when the visitors led 2-1, after tangling off the ball with Bishops front man Andrew Johnson.

But a second-half double from leading scorer Matthew Beadle made sure Ian Street’s men left the north east as victors.

They went ahead on 19 minutes when Jamie Tandy crossed from the left for Stuart Wellstead, arriving from the opposite wing, to head past goalkeeper Scott Pocklington from close range.

Full backs Stuart Thompson and Jordan Lavery both sent in shots from distance at the other end, where custodian Matthew Conkie saved comfortably.

1874 doubled their advantage against the run of play, this time when Matthew Woolley diverted Tandy’s corner into the net at the far post.

Thompson halved the hosts’ arrears in the moments before half time with a spectacular strike into the top corner from outside of the penalty area.

Referee Matthew Dicicco, after being alerted by a linesman, showed a red card to Bayley shortly afterwards.

1874, reshuffled from the restart, were next to score on 53 minutes when Beadle was first to a loose ball after Matthew Ward’s initial attempt was parried into his path by Pocklington.

Bishops sent on top scorer John Butler, and his clever header prompted Conkie to save.

The same player fired wide from another attempt.

Another substitute, Oliver Hotchkiss, was denied by 1874’s custodian too.

Bishops’ best run in the competition ended though in the 67th minute when Beadle, left unmarked, finished clinically from Wellstead’s centre.

Bishops Pocklington (GK), Thompson, Lavery, Riding, Poole, Tarling, Sakr (Butler 58), Megran (Hotchkiss 66), Johnson, Davis, Lane Subs not used Jobling, Irving, Day Goal Thompson 42 Booked Megran, Tarling

1874 Conkie (GK), Mitchell, Woolley, Bayley, Duckworth, Wellstead (Gill 82), Chappell, Jones, Tandy, Ward, Beadle (Brandon 86) Subs not used Bowyer, Lunn, Short Goals Wellstead 19, Woolley 29, Beadle 53, 67 Booked Beadle, Ward, Wellstead, Jones Sent off Bayley

Referee Matthew Dicicco

Attendance 407

Additional reporting by Garry Clarke