SCOTT McGowan set a record with a double against his old team as 1874 Northwich halted a four-match losing run.

He has now scored 38 goals this season, surpassing a marker set by Mike Brandon during the club’s inaugural season.

It helped turn around a contest the visitors trailed at the break, and they close a gap in the North West Counties League’s Premier Division table to sixth-placed Charnock Richard.

Congleton took the lead after quarter of an hour when Ryan Hibbert, left unmarked, met Luke Edwards’ corner with a header that goalkeeper Greg Hall had no chance of stopping.

McGowan levelled four minutes after the interval, firing across goalkeeper Daniel Eccles and into the far-corner after running onto Rory Fallon’s pass.

Kazim Waite-Jackson, another 1874 player that switched from Congleton last summer, fired high as the visitors tried to impose themselves.

He turned provider when McGowan scored again on the hour, this time steering a cross past Eccles with his head from close-range.

A purple patch continued when Ryan Jackson made it 3-1, finishing emphatically after winger Josh Winthrop conjured a chance by cutting inside from the left flank.

Substitute Kyle Riley was thwarted by Eccles, who repeated the trick when Jackson next tried his luck.

The wide man was not to be denied though, and he added gloss with four minutes left.

Waite-Jackson’s assist invited him to run into the Bears’ penalty area, stroking the ball underneath Eccles and into the net.

Billy Hasler-Cregg called Hall into action with time running out, but by then a fourth meeting between the teams this season had long since been settled.

1874 turn their attention next to a date with second-placed Widnes at St Luke’s Barton Stadium on Thursday, kick-off 7.45pm.

Congleton | Eccles (GK), Peters (Martin 80), Disney, Groom, Morris, Edwards, Hasler-Cregg, Griffith, Foster (Short 76), Fletcher, Hibbert (Moran 73) Subs not used Johnson, Hargreaves Goal Hibbert 15 Booked Morris, Hasler-Cregg

1874 | Hall (GK), Lever (Connor 46), Woods, Pritchard, Thomas, Matthew Woolley (Freakes 55), Ryan Jackson, Fallon, McGowan (Riley 63), Waite-Jackson, Winthrop Subs not used Mitchell, Payne Goals McGowan 49, 60 Ryan Jackson 66, 84

Referee Jack Nield

Attendance 128