SCOTT McGowan scored twice as 1874 Northwich overturned an interval deficit to beat 10-man Padiham.

A fourth away win of the campaign in the North West Counties League’s top-flight is a reward for an interval substitution made by management duo Paul Bowyer and Wayne Goodison.

Jack Irlam’s introduction allowed them to establish control in midfield, and they looked likely winners from the moment their leading goal-scorer steered in Jordan Tucker’s cross to restore parity.

Goalkeeper Tony Aghayere then produced a stunning one-handed save to divert substitute Sam Hare’s chip over the bar.

However he couldn’t prevent McGowan from putting the visitors ahead on 63 minutes when he reached a long pass from Mark Jones first before flicking it past the Storks’ number one.

McGowan, Irlam and Matthew Woolley all sent efforts off-target, while Aghayere’s double-save denied McGowan a hat-trick.

Padiham, with Adam Morning and Michael Morrison in joint charge for the first time, rarely threatened and full-back Josh Dunroe was sent off for a foul on Lucas Weir.

The hosts’ impressive goalkeeper tipped over Irlam’s strike from distance, and Callum Gardner’s shot was cleared off the line by a defender.

It had been a different story in the first-half.

Tucker dithered after he had been sent clear by McGowan, allowing a Padiham back-marker to recover and block his path to goal.

The Storks went in front on 27 minutes after 1874 had surrendered possession cheaply, setting in motion a move that ended with Liam O’Neill claiming his 19th goal of the campaign.

He was denied another when Northwich goalkeeper James Coates saved smartly and the net-minder was alert as well to thwart debutant Kayde Coppin.

Padiham | Aghayere (GK), Dunroe, Hoskin, Pennington (Cullen 90), Unsworth, Fletcher, O’Neill, Pope, Coppin, Webb-Foster (Ralph 63), Knight (Ince 86) Subs not used Burrows, Taylor Goal O’Neill 27 Sent off Dunroe

1874 | Coates (GK), Tucker, Connor, Thomas (Irlam 46), Jones, Weir, Gardner, Matthew Woolley, McGowan, Waite-Jackson (Hare 30), Koral (Ormrod 86) Subs not used Riley, Rigby (GK) Goals McGowan 53, 64 Booked Waite-Jackson, Weir

Referee James Shepherd

Attendance 332

Additional reporting by Garry Clarke