TOM Bailey scored a decisive goal to help 1874 Northwich keep pace with their rivals for promotion from the North West Counties League’s top flight.

The front man fired a dipping shot over the head of Irlam custodian Lee White to increase his personal tally for the season to 15, a lead the visitors protected for the following 70 minutes.

They become only the second side to win a Premier Division match at the Ambitek Stadium this term, a feat that has been beyond fellow title-hopefuls Atherton Collieries and Bootle.

Ian Street’s side were better before the break.

Sam Hind prodded wide Paul Connor’s dangerous cross, while Joe Woolley’s free kick drifted narrowly wide.

Ryan Mitchell’s header, from Bailey’s cross, did the same.

Scott McGowan, who scored a hat-trick in a comfortable Cheshire FA Senior Cup success against his former club Congleton in midweek, then prompted White to save smartly.

Irlam came more into the game after the interval, 1874 goalkeeper Greg Hall, making his 50th appearance, saved a close range to deny Connor Braithwaite after the defender’s initial attempt from a corner had been blocked.

Hind’s shot at the other end, from a Connor cross, was deflected wide by a back-marker.

Marcus Perry fired off-target for Irlam before Joe Woolley matched his feat after combining with Bailey in a movement that covered three-quarters of the field.

Braithwaite breathed a sigh of relief when he lofted a back pass, under pressure from Bailey, against an upright with White unable to intervene.

Substitute Jordan Icely shot wastefully high when a set piece dropped his way before White produced the stop of the contest when he diverted to safety Ryan Jackson’s free kick as it arrowed towards a corner of the net.

The attacker, a second-half replacement for Joe Woolley, also drilled a across the face of goal with time running out.

Irlam | White (GK), Lomas (Cassell 78), Peters, Sherwood (Bickett 67), Braithwaite, Mills, Perry, Illidge, Lawlor, Parker, Xavier (Icely 69) Subs not used Barlow, Grimshaw Booked Lawlor

1874 | Hall (GK), Connor, Russell, Mitchell, Jones, Chappell, Hind, Matthew Woolley, McGowan, Tom Bailey (Rick Bailey 84), Joe Woolley (Jackson 68) Subs not used Jack Woolley, Lever, Tulloch Goal Tom Bailey 12

Referee Daniel Hitchell

Attendance 148

Match report by Garry Clarke