NORTHWICH Victoria overturned an interval deficit on Sunday to brush aside Alsager Town and make progress in the Macron Cup.

They started slowly, and trailed from the sixth minute after Jack Edwards raced clear before applying a cool finish.

The visitors, from the North West Counties League’s First Division South, had to absorb pressure for the first-half’s remainder and were grateful to their goalkeeper Rhys Bills for preserving their lead.

Steve Wilkes’ side did not look back from the moment Rob Doran flicked Antony Shinks’ cross into the net from close-range early in the second-half.

And the home team took the lead shortly afterwards Doran met Harvey Whyte’s centre with a glancing header.

The midfielder turned provider again, this time for Brian Matthews, when Vics went 3-1 up on the hour – the striker's ninth goal in as many appearances.

There was gloss added during the closing stages, and Brandon Barski’s forward charge ended with a cross-cum-shot deflecting into the roof of the net off Jordan Anbris.

The defender’s next raid into opposition territory was ended by a clumsy challenge from Charlie Marshall, but Doran was denied a hat-trick when Bills stopped his penalty.

A fifth goal arrived with time running out when John Connolly’s cross from the left was stroked in by Joel Brownhill.

Vics | Taberner (GK), Shinks, Kenny, Barski, Clarke (Fitzgerald 66), Cooke, Whyte (Whittle 83), Connolly, Brownhill, Doran, Matthews (Craig 73) Sub not used Cottam (GK) Goals Doran 47, 53, Matthews 61, Barski 82, Brownhill 88

Referee Ben Atkinson

Attendance 144

Match report by Jamie Dewsbury