1874 Northwich will be breathing a little easier after securing their first win of the new season from six matches.

A Jack Irlam penalty, which found the net off a post in the 33rd minute, handed Greens a 1-0 win at Newcastle Town.

The Northern Premier League West clash at The Red Industries Stadium was not packed with incident, but 1874 hung tough when they needed to especially late on when the hosts were looking for a leveller from a series of corners.

Probably the best of the other chances created by 1874 also fell to Irlam, when he tried to lob the keeper from the halfway line and on another occasion when he found himself one-on-one with the shot-stopper but both attempts were eventually saved.

This was 1874’s third clean-sheet and a result that had been coming, this being the fifth game in a row that finished either as a draw or was settled by a solitary goal.

It was a result that moved 74 up three places to 16th.

Meanwhile Witton Albion, from the same division, were in FA Cup action at higher division Lancaster City.

Witton ended up exiting the competition at the first qualifying round stage with a 2-1 defeat at Giant Axe Stadium.

Jake Connelly gave the home side the lead in the 23rd minute but Connor Hughes struck 15 minutes later to ensure the sides turned around level pegging.

Niall Cowperthwaite (79mins) eventually hit the winner for City, whose league form has seen them climb to fourth in the Northern Premier League Premier Division at the season’s start.

Winsford United lost again, a ninth defeat in a row since the season’s start after dropping down to North West Counties League Division One South.

They were in the contest at Stockport Georgians until added time when Harry Lynn hit the mark to make the points safe for the hosts.

They had held a 1-0 lead since Kyle Wych’s second-minute penalty.

In the same division, Barnton picked up a creditable point at high-flying Market Drayton Town.

They conceded to Nicky Parker in the 13th minute but responded with goals from Harvey Simple (30) and Justeace Nichols-Holness (55).

Nathan Brayford equalised for Town in the 63rd minute.

The point, along with the three earned on Wednesday courtesy of a 3-0 home success against Eccleshall, left the Villagers in 10th place, just three points outside the play-offs places at this early stage.

Against Eccleshall, Justeace Nichols-Holness (13), Sam Smith (15) and Joseph Levey (53) scored the goals.