1874 NORTHWICH ended another FA Cup campaign with a reason to feel regret following a disappointing display in Saturday’s preliminary round exit against Maltby Main.

They left it too late to rally, Michael Brandon’s goal with nine minutes left arriving when their Northern Counties East League guests already led 2-0.

Their reward is a home date with higher-ranked Frickley Athletic.

And the visitors posed an attacking threat from the outset, with Nicky Darker and Brian Cusworth both prompting 1874 goalkeeper Matthew Conkie to save during the early exchanges.

Danny Thomas diverted Ben Thornton’s goal-bound header to safety, while at the other end Brandon’s attempt rattled an upright.

Maltby took the lead after half an hour, Darker drilling past the home team’s custodian after Thomas had been caught in possession.

In the second period, Martin Hill fired off-target while skipper Hayden Bennett timed perfectly an intervention to halt opposite number Neil Chappell.

1874 conceded again on 55 minutes, this time Thornton punishing sloppy defending when he shot low into the corner.

Manager Ian Street sent on Aidan Haughton and Arron Kirk, the former almost making an instant impact when Maltby number one Jamie Bailey blocked his header on the goal-line.

Haughton turned provider shortly afterwards, but Bennett’s decisive touch took his cross clear of Brandon’s head.

1874 were vulnerable to counter-attacks, with Cusworth twice going close to extending his side’s lead.

First, he blasted high with the goal at his mercy, then pulled a second attempt wide when clean through.

Another opportunity was missed when he rolled a shot narrowly past a post.

Brandon halved his side’s arrears with a header from Paul Connor’s assist, but not even the introduction of Matthew Beadle – last season’s leading scorer – as a late substitute could conjure a last-gasp equaliser.

1874 | Conkie (GK), Connor, James, Mitchell, Thomas, Chappell (Kirk 67), Hill, Woolley, Brandon, McNichol (Beadle 80), Stewart (Haughton 57) Subs not used Ledwards, Ward, Tulloch Goal Brandon 81 Booked Woolley, Haughton

Maltby | Bailey (GK), Austin, Fawcus, Nodder (Poole 80), Barnett, Hemmingway, Outram, Darker, Cusworth (Lovell 85), Thornton, Yousefi (Swales 90) Subs not used Gibson, Stancliffe Goals Darker 30, Thornton 55 Booked Austin

Referee Andrew Cawtherley

Attendance 260     

Additional reporting by Garry Clarke