WAYNE Goodison has said 1874 Northwich’s players have set a standard to aspire to after they put five goals without reply past Silsden on Saturday.

A side that he manages jointly with Paul Bowyer recorded their biggest win of the campaign and return to the North West Counties League Premier Division top 10 as a result.

“I think, certainly over 90 minutes, that’s the best that we’ve been,” said Goodison.

“The challenge now is to maintain that level of performance.”

1874 were in complete control of a contest they led from the sixth minute when Taylor Kennerley steered in Callum Gardner’s cross.

Scott McGowan, twice, was on target too while goals from Matthew Woolley and Kyle Riley – his first of the season and greeted with the loudest cheer – completed an emphatic victory on home turf.

Goodison told the Guardian that there was plenty of encouragement ahead of a testing trip to Newcastle Benfield in the FA Vase next weekend.

A third clean-sheet in the league is important, he said, as was the hosts’ attitude to the second-half after going 3-0 up so soon after the interval.

He added: “There was no dip, and that’s something we talked about at half-time.

“It was important to go back out and not concede, or at least not be on the back-foot.

“We didn’t, and even at 5-0 we were still pressing them and trying to force a mistake.

“It’s our hallmark to be on the front-foot and take the game to the opposition and, in some ways, there is a sense a result like this has been coming.”

He said a productive training session in midweek helped too.

After conceding three goals during a Macron Cup first round success at lower-ranked Chadderton last weekend, there was some tidying up to do in defence.

He added: “We spent time working on our shape and how we wanted to stop them from playing.

“The proof is in the pudding, and we looked strong at the back.

“Silsden are a good side, one I’ve seen a couple of times this season, and they couldn’t handle us.”