1874 NORTHWICH completed a double over Padiham on Tuesday when a swift start left their hosts playing catch-up.

It is a fourth win in the past five North West Counties League games for the visitors, who have shut out their opponents in every one of those.

They took the lead inside five minutes when Jake Parker, back in the starting line-up after missing the previous five matches because of an injury, stroked in from close-range.

It was 2-0 after quarter of an hour when Scott McGowan curled a smart finish into the top-corner.

A side managed Paul Bowyer and Wayne Goodison continued to attack, and their leading goal-scorer converted a penalty to put them out of the Storks’ reach.

He missed out on a treble after kicking fresh air with the goal at his mercy.

1874 sent on Josh Winthrop for his first league appearance in the second-half, followed by Danny Thomas who stationed himself in front of the defence.

The visitors, beaten 4-2 at Charnock Richard on Thursday, repelled what their hosts threw at them in the remainder before Sam Hind – standing in as captain in Matthew Woolley’s absence – fired into the side-netting with time running out.

Padiham | Cross (GK), Sanders, Taylor, Morrison, Ayres, Sanderson, Craig, Hargreaves, Jordan, Boyle, Hart (Stockdale 72) Subs not used Lancaster, Duffy, Hoskin

1874 | Hall (GK), Connor, Russell, Mitchell, Pritchard, Hind, Freakes, Fallon, Parker (Thomas 73), McGowan (Riley 82), Kennerley (Winthrop 60) Subs not used Lever, Waite-Jackson Goals Parker 5, McGowan 16, 20 (penalty)

Referee Paul Roots

Attendance 124