1874 NORTHWICH protected a lead despite a late scare when Carl Grimshaw halved Charnock’s arrears.

They close a gap in the North West Counties League Premier Division table to their guests as a result, and trail them by four points with three games in hand.

A victory on Saturday also avenged a defeat against the same opponents earlier this month.

The hosts started swiftly, and Ryan Jackson’s shot on the turn was off-target after Sam Hind crossed from the left.

When Paul Connor returned the favour for Hind, arriving at the back-post, he lifted the ball over goalkeeper Adam Halton only for defender Jordyn Fitton to clear off the line.

1874 continued to make the running, and Hind’s next attempt was deflected for a corner.

He flicked wide too from the resulting flag-kick, while Ryan Jackson fired a shot across the face of goal after Jack Pritchard had picked him out with a raking pass.

The home team made a breakthrough their dominance deserved shortly before the interval when Hind directed Ryan Jackson’s cut-back into the roof of the net.

Charnock posed more of a threat early in the second-half, although attempts from Joe Noblet and leading goal-scorer Grimshaw both failed to trouble custodian Greg Hall.

Instead the visitors fell further behind on 73 minutes when Kyle Riley steered a pass with his heel into the path of Scott McGowan who claimed his 39th goal of the campaign.

Noblet blasted into the side-netting before Grimshaw finished smartly to raise his side’s hopes of pinching a share of the spoils.

However, on this occasion at least, there was to be no late twist to deny 1874.

1874 | Hall (GK), Connor, Ben Woods (Freakes 46), Pritchard, Thomas, Fallon, Hind (Kennerley 78), Matthew Woolley (Riley 65), McGowan, Waite-Jackson, Ryan Jackson Subs not used Russell, Goodison Goals Hind 45 (+2), McGowan 73 Booked Freakes, Riley

Charnock | Halton (GK), Bibby, Fitton, Young, O’Farrell, Mark Woods, Davidson (Rufus 61), Fairhurst, Grimshaw, Noblet, Ralph (Dodd 82) Subs not used Close, Schofield, Walker Goal Grimshaw 84

Referee Lewis Raper

Attendance 224

Match report by Garry Clarke