1874 NORTHWICH will visit leaders City of Liverpool next weekend buoyed by extending an unbeaten run in the North West Counties League to seven matches.
They were deserving victors on Saturday, when they picked up where they had left off after recovering to draw with the same opponents in midweek.
Sam Hare put them in front on 33 minutes, steering the ball in off an upright after Hanley goalkeeper Joe Mellor slipped and surrendered possession.
A second goal arrived early in the second-half after Hare clipped the ball into space for Callum Gardner.
The wide man’s cross from the left reached Scott McGowan, who turned and shot in the same movement to increase his tally for the campaign to 18.
He was denied another when substitute Ben White timed perfectly a tackle after Kazim Waite-Jackson had created an opening.
Hanley halved their arrears on 61 minutes when Lewis Salmon leapt higher than Paul Connor to plant a firm header past custodian James Coates.
It stirred the visitors briefly, although they were relieved shortly afterwards when Waite-Jackson had a goal ruled out for offside after drilling past Mellor from Matt Russell’s assist.
1874 continued to make the running, and Mellor thwarted Gardner.
The Northwich winger then redirected Russell’s cross towards the target only for a defender to smuggle clear.
Hare couldn’t convert from close-range after McGowan turned provider from the left, while Mellor was equal to the striker’s next attempt after a long ball from Gardner had landed in his path.
1874 | Coates (GK), Paul Connor, Matt Russell, Pritchard, Meadowcroft, Weir, Gardner (Winthrop 85), Matthew Woolley, McGowan, Hare, Waite-Jackson Subs not used Ormrod, Preston, Carney, Rigby (GK) Goals Hare 33, McGowan 54
Hanley | Joe Mellor (GK), Faulkner, Mealey, Ryan Connor (Skellern 75), Thorpe (White 47), Higginbotham, Salmon, Fenney, Keates, Lees, Sutton (Alex Russell 46) Subs not used Oliver Mellor, Hamlett Goal Salmon 61 Booked Higginbotham, Lees Alex Russell
Referee Stuart Morland
Attendance 237
Match report by Garry Clarke
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