WHEN substitute Brandon Moores scored to stretch Congleton’s lead to 4-1, supporters of 1874 Northwich could be forgiven for feeling a sense of déjà vu.

After all, their side had been similarly dismantled by Ashton Athletic only seven days earlier.

In October alone, it is the 15th goal Ian Street’s side has conceded during a sequence of just four matches.

Yet they’ve still picked up seven points.

Substitute Mike Brandon applied the faintest of touches to Ryan Jackson’s cross with time running out to earn a share of the spoils that had appeared out of reach less than half an hour earlier.

It’s becoming that sort of season for 1874.

As the scoreline suggests, the teams traded chances regularly in an open encounter.

Matthew Conkie saved smartly to deny Declan Fletcher, while Jackson’s angled attempt at the other end flashed wide.

His next attempt, after skipping around goalkeeper Andrew Farrimond, was smuggled off the line by Kieron Kenny.

It proved brief respite for the Bears, who fell behind when Matthew Beadle found the net with a header from the resulting corner.

Congleton overturned the deficit in a two-minute spell, drawing level when Scott McGowan sent a rising shot out of Conkie’s reach from former 1874 man Rick Bailey’s assist.

His finish was similarly emphatic shortly after the restart, this time after Fletcher conjured the opening.

He complete his hat-trick on 52 minutes, lifting a perfectly-executed chip over the visitors’ custodian.

A fourth goal followed on the hour when Moores, a replacement for McGowan, steered in Brian Matthews cross from close range.

Street sent on new recruit Michael Evans, leading scorer for Middlewich Town in the Cheshire League’s second tier this term, shortly afterwards.

And from his pass Beadle lobbed his second strike of the contest with little more than 20 minutes remaining.

Skipper Matthew Woolley’s drive then sneaked past Farrimond to make it 4-3.

By then Brandon had been introduced as the visitors took the initiative, evidenced by Stuart Wellstead and Evans both going close.

There was a scare too; Fletcher, after running clear following a counter-attack, fluffed a chance to settle the outcome.

He will have felt worse when Brandon glanced in Jackson’s centre.

Congleton | Farrimond (GK), McDonnell, Lee Jackson, Bayley, Kenny, Blair (Crosby 78), Bailey, Sephton, Fletcher, McGowan (Moores 58), Matthews Subs not used Battes, Marshall, Alson Goals McGowan 32, 35, 52 Moores 60 Booked Sephton, Kenny

1874 | Conkie (GK), Connor, James, Stadnicki, Lomas (Brandon 66), Stewart (Evans 64), Wellstead, Woolley, Beadle, Ward, Ryan Jackson Subs not used McNichol, Mason, Tulloch Goals Beadle 17, 66 Woolley 67 Brandon 88 Booked Woolley

Referee Ian Hurdle

Attendance 238