INEVITABLY, given the persistent rainfall from start to finish, a mistake saw game slip from one team’s grasp.

For Bootle goalkeeper Dave Moran, it happened literally.

With the sides tied at 1-1 at the start of the second half, he could not keep hold of a ball made greasy by the sodden surface.

Ben Brooks was rewarded for his vigilance when he pounced to score a debut goal for the visitors.

They glimpsed an opportunity, and four minutes later Matthew Beadle – quick as a flash – sent a rising shot past Moran to settle the outcome.

Ahead 3-1, 1874 Northwich were suddenly out of their hosts’ reach.

They remain the same distance, two points, from the table’s top spot following wins for their promotion rivals.

However to manager Ian Street this will have felt a long way from the below-par performance during a home defeat against Atherton Collieries a fortnight earlier.

And that despite falling behind.

Jackson Ellis put Bootle in front after six minutes, angling a shot past 1874’s new custodian Greg Hall after Craig Farnworth failed to cut out Kieran Haligan’s cross from the right.

Beadle restored parity shortly afterwards, blasting past Moran after Stuart Wellstead had cushioned a ricocheted ball into his path.

It was a catalyst, and Michael Brandon was unfortunate to see his attempt roll short of the goal-line after Moran’s intervention had taken all power from it.

The Bootle net-minder then tipped over Beadle’s dipping drive at full stretch.

But the hosts, shorn of the services of leading scorer Dominic Marie – who hit a hat-trick in the return match at Barton Stadium – following a switch to Skelmersdale, rallied afterwards.

Ellis ought to have doubled his personal tally when he met Josh Hamilton’s centre, only to head wide from inside the six-yard box.

Jay McGrane then diverted Charlie Kelly’s corner straight at Hall, while Daniel O’Connor matched Ellis’ earlier wastefulness then sending Haligan’s assist too high.

Any frustration they felt fomented further when Moran was made to pay for not taming that slippery ball within seconds of the restart after half time.

He could do nothing but admire Beadle’s brilliance when he claimed his 17th goal of the campaign shortly afterwards.

By then the travelling supporters had added reason to be reassured, for their favourites have yet to lose when the striker has found the net.

Beadle turned provider for Brandon on 57 minutes, but the latter’s header at the back-post was kept out by Moran.

Bootle briefly raised hopes of a pinching a point with six minutes to go when Hamilton’s perfectly-weighted pass invited Tom Peterson to make it 3-2 with a tidy finishing touch.

And they appealed twice, more in hope than expectation, for penalties before time ran out.

“We knew if we put pressure on them they might be brittle,” said Street afterwards.

“That’s why we went for it straight after half time.”

It’s a plan that worked.

Bootle | Moran (GK), Haligan, Powell, Kilroy (Rooney), Kelly, Wilson (Hay), O’Connor, Ellis, Hamilton, McGrane (Ordish), Peterson Subs not used Dodd, Preston Goals Ellis 6, Peterson 84 Booked Hamilton (foul)

1874 | Hall (GK), Connor, Mitchell, Farnworth, James, Woolley, Brandon (Chappell), Wellstead, Ward, Brooks, Beadle Subs not used Cookson (GK), Hindle, Lomas, Jackson Goals Beadle 14, 50 Brooks 46 Booked Ward (foul)

Attendance 180