1874 Northwich left it late to book their place in the FA Vase second round draw, scoring their winning goal in the fifth minute of time added on.

Maintaining his goal a game record since returning to the club three games ago, Daley Woods struck the decisive blow scoring from close range after Ashton Town’s otherwise impressive goalkeeper Gage Walsh spilled a fierce Matt Beadle free kick.

Woods had almost opened the scoring 90 minutes earlier but was denied by a combination of a point blank Walsh save and a linesman’s offside flag.

A few minutes later Ashton Town had two shots blocked as 1874 struggled to clear their lines before Sean Robinson shot wide and Stephen Milne had a shot saved by Matt Conkie.

Matt Beadle opened the scoring in the 34th minute heading home at the near post from a pin point Jamie Tandy free kick after having been needlessly fouled out wide on the right flank.

Two minutes later Robinson latched onto a long ball played over the top of the 1874 defence. Racing away he slotted the ball past Conkie from a tight angle to level the score.

In the closing minutes of an uninspiring first half Ashton’s Neil Weaver curled a free kick narrowly wide of the target and Ryan Mitchell headed wide from a corner.

The second half was a much more open affair with play switching from end to end.

In the opening minutes 1874 scrambled the ball out of their area setting Tandy free to race down the left wing before slipping the ball to Woods, whose cross found Beadle at the far post but he was unable to hit the target.

Weaver ended a long run down the right wing by setting up Sam Wilkie, who scuffed his shot wide.

Moments later Robinson ran onto another long ball, holding off initial challenges he powered his way into the area. As he was about to shoot he was disposed by a perfectly timed Danny Thomas tackle.

After Weaver shot wide on the hour mark, 1874 started to dominate proceedings.

Woods fired a free kick under a jumping Ashton wall but could not find a way past Walsh, who also cut out a dangerous cross from Woods and also confidently caught a number of crosses from Tandy.

In the 65th minute Walsh missed a Tandy free kick which floated across the goal to be met at the far post by Woods.

As Woods headed the ball into the empty net a linesman’s flag was raised indicating Woods was offside.

As the game entered stoppage time Weaver struck a shot inches wide of the angle of 1874’s goal and with extra time beckoning Matty Ward went down on the edge of the Ashton penalty area under a heavy challenge from Scott Baker which also involved Walsh to set up Beadle’s free kick which led to Woods’ goal.

1874: Conkie, Connor, Thomas, Mitchell, McGrath, Woolley, Woods, Jones (Brandon 64mins), Beadle, Ward, Tandy (Duckworth 80mins). Subs not used Wellstead, Stewart, Fossdyke.

Ashton: Walsh, McDonald, Crompton, Keenan, Baker, Wilkie, Weaver, McNally, Robinson, Munro (Berrill 71 mins), Milne (Barrie 74mins). Subs not used Cusani, Williams, Boyle.

Attendance: 241