A WEEK of twists and turns for Northwich Victoria built up to a Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final loss against former manager Jim Gannon's Stockport County last night.

On an evening when Vics fell 22 points behind Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division North title rivals Warrington Town, who won 9-0 at Droylsden, Adam Lakeland's men went down 3-0.

John Marsden (15mins), Kayode Odejayi (20mins) and Sean O'Hanlon (84mins) put County through to the final.

On Saturday, captain Mike Clarke's late header kept Northwich Victoria's hopes of the title alive as the hosts ended Warrington Town's 12-game winning run 3-2 at Wincham Park.

It was the following day that news broke of Vics being deducted nine points for fielding an ineligible player, and then 24 hours later Witton Albion announced they will end their ground-share agreement with Vics at the end of the current campaign.

The 3-2 success over Warrington on Saturday brought shortlived joy for Vics.

The sides shared five second-half goals as Jimmy Ball and Richie Bennett put Vics ahead after Danny Ventre's opener, with Scott Metcalfe's equaliser cancelled out by Clarke's winning effort three minutes from time.

A soft Ciaran Kilheeney shot in the first minute and a Ben Deegan header soon after was all Northwich keeper Mason Springthorpe had to deal with in the opening quarter, before Ball forced Town stopper Karl Wills to save from 25 yards.

It took until 47 minutes for the deadlock to be broken and it was the visitors who did do.

Town centre back Ventre pounced on a loose headed clearance to fire into the bottom corner.

Four minutes later and Vics were level, with Ball connecting sweetly with a low, long-range strike to defeat Wills from outside the box after debutant Matty Regan had beaten three men and set up his teammate.

Bennett headed wide just after the hour mark from Scott Duxbury's cross, with Wills saving from the same man moments later.

But Vics' leading scorer would not be denied, netting his 21st of the season when he got a touch on Iain Howard's driven cross.

The visiting Yellows thought they had done enough to secure a share of the points with eight minutes remaining when Metcalfe's corner was headed back to him and the winger curled a cross in off the far post, eluding everyone in the box.

With Vics knowing only three points was likely to do them any favours, the hosts poured forward in search of a winner.

They found it in the 87th minute.

The hosts won a corner and substitute Brian Summerskill sent in an inch-perfect delivery for skipper Clarke to rise highest in the Town box and thunder a header past the stranded keeper Wills in front of the 514-strong crowd at Wincham Park.

It meant Northwich became the first side to beat Warrington in 16 games, with the Yellows winning 14 of their previous 15 outings.

Vics: Springthorpe (GK), Byrne, Clarke, Krou, Regan, Duxbury (Summerskill 77), Ball, Roddy, Bennett, Howard (Cook 90), Burnett (Amis 56). Subs not used: King (GK), Ali.

Attendance: 514

Then came news of the points deduction.

On Sunday, the league confirmed that Vics have had nine points taken from their total as punishment for fielding an ineligible player – goalkeeper Mason Springthorpe – in four fixtures earlier this season.

The club, after the sanction was confirmed following an appeal hearing, have said they will seek arbitration to resolve the dispute.

That could delay the campaign's conclusion.

As things stand, and with Spennymoor Town thumping New Mills 9-0 last night, Vics have slipped to third and are, although they have four games in hand on Warrington, are now 22 points adrift.

For tenants Northwich, the end of the ground-share agreement with Witton was the week's second blow.

In a short statement issued on Monday morning, Witton chairman Mark Harris said he would not at this stage say why the agreement was to be concluded.

However their Northern Premier League Division One North rivals will be allowed to play their remaining matches at Wincham Park this season.

It leaves Vics with three weeks to find a pitch they can play on next term to meet a deadline of March 31.

“Witton Albion can today announce that the ground-sharing agreement with Northwich Victoria is not being renewed next season,” reads the statement.

“Matches will continue to be played at the Wincham Park for the rest of the current campaign subject to all contract terms being met.”

The Guardian understands Vics do not owe rent, and that is not the reason for Witton’s decision.

Albion informed their tenants they will be evicted in a letter dated Monday, although there has been dialogue between the two clubs over the past few days.

They agreed terms for a ground-share at the start of last year, confirming an initial three-year arrangement in February.

An annual review was built in, and Harris told the Guardian in November the board could reconsider if Vics remained on course to be promoted.

However that too can be ruled out as a motive for ending the rivals' relationship this summer.

“So far, the relationship has been fine - indeed the main challenge that has been thrown up is when games have taken place close to one another,” he said at the time.

“Our ground-staff have been brilliant to get the pitch ready on those occasions.

“The financial element of the agreement is inescapable too; other than the money we take at the turnstile for our games, it’s the most substantial source of income we have.

“But we must take a considered view of all factors.”

It is not known what will happen to Northwich – for example, if they can be promoted as champions or if they could contest the play-offs should they finish in the top five – if they do not find an alternative ground on which to host opponents [next season].