MATTHEW Beadle scored twice for 1874 Northwich as they brushed aside their landlords to reach the Men United Cup last 16.

The front man increased his goals tally for the season to a dozen in a 4-0 win, earning for his side a third-round encounter with Premier Division rivals Ashton.

Ian Street’s man, unbeaten in four matches, toiled to find their rhythm during the early exchanges.

Matthew Ward did not trouble Winsford United goalkeeper Dale Latham from distance, nor did Dale Jennings when he tried his luck against Matthew Conkie at the other end.

A breakthrough did not arrive until five minutes before the break, when Beadle and Mike Brandon led a counter attack.

The latter sent former Blue Stuart Wellstead away, and he returned the ball to Brandon who slotted it out of Latham’s reach.

When Beadle swept in Ward’s assist from close range at the start of the second period, 1874 assumed control.

Winsford, with Kevin Bircumshaw in a caretaker role following manager Rob Byrne’s resignation on Tuesday, went close when James Rothwell met a free kick with his head.

Kyle Riley prompted Conkie to save, but Blues’ hopes of a recovery ended on 65 minutes when Beadle drilled in an angled shot after a defender had diverted Wellstead’s cross into his path.

Wellstead added gloss when he met substitute Daniel Cawley’s assist in the closing stages, applying the finishing touch to a raid launched by Arron Kirk.

1874 | Conkie (GK), Connor, James, Woolley, Lomas, Brandon (Haughton 84), Wellstead, Kirk, Beadle, Ward (McNichol 86), Jackson (Cawley 75) Sub not used Stewart Goals Brandon 40, Beadle 46, 65 Wellstead 86 Booked Beadle, Kirk

Winsford | Latham (GK), Clarke, Duckworth, Eiselt, Baker, Rothwell, Jennings, Hudson (Henderson 68), Hibbert (Sam Riley 60), Kyle Riley (Devaney), Seol Sub not used Noon Booked Kyle Riley, Jennings

Referee Daniel Hitchell

Attendance 316

Additional reporting by Garry Clarke