IT was a case of when, and not if.
Scott McGowan replaced Michael Brandon as 1874 Northwich’s all-time leading goal-scorer when he steered the ball under Charnock Richard goalkeeper Adam Halton with four minutes left.
His tally for the club is 80, and it secured maximum points for the visitors.
Theirs continues to be an upward curve in the North West Counties League after recording wins in five of their past eight Premier Division matches.
Two others have been draws.
And 1874 took the lead on 17 minutes when Taylor Kennerley concluded a surge down the left by blasting an angled shot past Halton.
Charnock, free-scoring all season, created chances at the other end.
Oliver Oxley prodded off-target during the early exchanges and prompted debutant custodian Dane Rigby, standing in for James Coates, to block his next attempt.
Taylor Kennerley takes on an opponent during a 2-0 victory for 1874 Northwich at Charnock Richard in the North West Counties League's top-flight on Saturday. Picture: Ian Dutton
Mark Adams’ close-range effort flew wide before Carl Grimshaw’s volley went over the crossbar.
He was wasteful too when meeting a free-kick from Joe Noblet floated in his direction with a header dropped the wrong side of an upright.
Northwich captain Matthew Woolley was the first to try his luck after the interval, although his drive from distance didn’t require Halton to intervene.
Rigby was brave to gather the ball at Oxley’s feet at the other end after Noblet had slipped a pass into his teammate’s path.
Halton was equal to McGowan’s shot after Jordan Tucker had picked out the front man, who also fired narrowly wide when he had another glimpse of goal.
However he was not to be denied, securing for himself a spot in 1874’s history books when he netted late on.
Charnock Richard | Halton (GK), Noblet, Walker, Carsley, Schofield, Westwell, Adams, Fairhurst, Grimshaw, Oxley (Woods 74), Ball (Higham 74) Subs not used O’Farrell, Young Booked Carsley, Noblet, Woods
1874 | Rigby (GK), Tucker, Connor, Pritchard, Jones, Irlam, Gardner (Waite-Jackson 74), Matthew Woolley, McGowan, Hare, Kennerley Subs not used Thomas, Ormrod, Weir, Preston Goals Kennerley 17, McGowan 86 Booked Gardner, Kennerley
Referee David Croft
Attendance 203
Match report by Garry Clarke
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