FOR 1874 Northwich, it was a day of unwanted firsts.

A debut in 2016 brought with it a maiden defeat against Barnoldswick, and probably a realisation that the title may already be beyond their reach.

The distance to first place is now 11 points.

Ian Street’s side trailed already to John Beckwith’s goal before full-back Louis James was dismissed in the ninth minute as punishment for a foul on the same player when he looked likely to score again.

Barlick then prompted goalkeeper Greg Hall to make saves to thwart Beckwith and then Joe Gaughan.

1874 did recover though, and Danny Thomas’ drive was tipped to safety by the home team’s custodian Jordan Gidley.

He was equal to efforts from Matthew Ward, Ryan Jackson, Stuart Wellstead and Matthew Beadle before the break.

At the other end Gaughan shot off-target at the end of a counter-attack, while Jake McEneaney drilled dangerously across the face of goal.

The second period started late after referee Colin Whitaker sustained an injury, and 1874 treasurer John Coates – a qualified match official – took over as substitute linesman.

Barlick were bright again after the restart, and Hall’s instinctive save stopped Gaughan’s close-range attempt.

James Longdon rolled in the rebound, only for Coates to rule he had strayed offside.

However the hosts did claim a deserved second goal on 62 minutes when Gaughan, left unmarked at a corner, smashed in a low corner.

But as they did earlier, 1874 rallied again.

They halved the deficit with a quarter of an hour left, when Ryan Jackson resisted a defender’s challenge before firing in from an acute angle after captain Matthew Woolley’s pass had picked him out in the box.

The visitors attacked in numbers for the remainder, and survived scares at the end of swift breakaways when Gaughan shot high on two occasions.

They were denied an equalising goal in injury time too; Ryan Mitchell steered in a loose ball after Gidley had blocked an initial attempt, but he was judged to have done so from an offside position.

Barlick | Gidley (GK), Moore, McEneaney, Crorken, Barnes, Airey, Beckwith, Thompson (Airdrie 79), Threlfall (Simpson 64), Longdon, Gaughan Subs not used Gill, Cruz Goals Beckwith 2, Gaughan 62 Booked Longdon, McEneaney, Moore, Crorken

1874 | Hall (GK), Mitchell, James, Farnworth, Thomas, Brandon, Wellstead (Brooks 70), Matthew Woolley (Stott 75), Beadle, Ward (Chappell 66), Jackson Subs not used Connor, Jack Woolley Goal Jackson 73 Booked Beadle, Ward Sent off James

Referee Colin Whitaker

Attendance 184

Additional reporting by Garry Clarke