1874 Northwich protected their unbeaten record in the Premier Division, but survived a scare to do so on Monday afternoon.

The visitors ended the contest with captain Neil Chappell in goal following the dismissal of stand-in custodian Tom Hunt, who was sent off with nine minutes left.

By then West, 3-0 down at the interval, had pulled two goals back.

1874 had taken the lead after quarter of an hour, Mike Brandon scoring from close range after a clearance was sent his way at a corner.

A second goal followed midway through the opening period, when Brandon played the part of provider to Martin Hill on the right.

The wide man steered a cross into Neil Chappell’s path, the skipper increasing his goal tally for the campaign to four with a powerful shot past the home team’s goalkeeper Hayden Buckley-Smith.

Brandon doubled his personal tally on 32 minutes, converting this time after Ryan Mitchell diverted a corner into his path.

And the in-form striker almost completed a hat-trick before the break, only to head inches over from Danny Thomas’ cross.

West improved after the interval, and Paul Connor had to be alert to deny them a goal-scoring opportunity.

Jordan Poole converted a penalty in the second half to spark a revival, but Jonny Poizer fluffed a sitter shortly afterwards.

Callum Jones was similarly wasteful from close range, shooting over, though he made amends by scoring a second goal in the 76th minute.

Hunt saw red as punishment for handling outside of the area, and he was followed off the field by West’s Matthew Eckersley after he lost his temper.

However Chappell refused to be beaten, helping 1874 to record a fourth win from five matches.

West | Buckley-Smith (GK), Jones, Schofield, Eckersley, Parker, Potts, Gavin, Poole, Woods, Mitten (Russell 69), Poizer (Settle) Subs not used Hughes, Walsh, Brockley Goals Poole 62 (penalty), Jones 76 Booked Poole Sent off Eckersley

1874 | Hunt (GK), Connor, Mitchell, Thomas, James (Ledwards 66), Hill, Chappell, Kirk, Woolley, Brandon, Shannon (Stewart 87) Subs not used Beadle, McNichol, Ward Goals Brandon 14, 32 Chappell 24 Sent off Hunt

Referee Mark Brown

Attendance 229