1874 NORTHWICH climbed to second in the North West Counties League top flight after Ryan Mitchell scored the only goal against West Didsbury on Tuesday.

He met Matthew Ward’s free kick with a header on 63 minutes, setting Ian Street’s men on course for a fourth win from their past five Premier Division matches.

It marks the third time they have beaten Steve Settle’s side this term too.

West will rue not taking something from the latest meeting, more so after missing a first-half penalty.

Before that, Lee Gavin had shot wastefully after he was teed up by Matthew Kay.

The latter then struck his spot kick against an upright after 1874 goalkeeper Matthew Conkie had brought down Ashley Woods.

At the other end, Kelvin Lugsden – sent off later for a foul – blocked efforts from Stuart Wellstead and then Mike Brandon.

The hosts improved after the interval, and Wellstead’s free kick dipped over.

Matthew Beadle had the clearest glimpse of goal, only for West custodian Hayden Buckley-Smith to deny him with a smart reaction stop.

A breakthrough arrived shortly after an hour, when Mitchell timed his run perfectly to divert Ward’s swerving set piece into the net.

The visitors attempted to respond but Mitchell, forming a new defensive tandem with returning Craig Farnworth with Danny Thomas ruled out by injury, was determined to protect the lead his goal had established.

1874 | Conkie (GK), Connor, James, Farnworth, Mitchell, Brandon, Wellstead, Woolley, Beadle, Ward, Cawley (McNichol 77) Subs not used Haughton, Lomas, Mason, Tulloch Goal Mitchell 63 Booked Conkie, Brandon

West | Buckley-Smith (GK), Jones, Schofield, Eckersley, Lugsden, Potts, Evangelinos (Steer 70), Gavin, Woods, Kay (Poizer 78), Gleave (Saeed 72) Subs not used Settle, Buckley Booked Potts Sent off Lugsden

Referee Aaron Jackson

Attendance 216