NORTHWICH Victoria could not repeat their weekend heroics despite taking the lead at North West Counties League title-hopefuls City of Liverpool.

Billy Whittle’s header stunned the Purps initially at Bootle before they Premier Division leaders restored parity when captain Luke Denson converted at the back-post after Tom Peterson had looped an overhead kick in his direction.

A decisive moment followed the interval when Peterson forced a loose ball into the net from close-range after Daniel Dalton’s header from a corner had been blocked on the line by a defender.

The visitors might have levelled when substitute Harvey Whyte sent Darrhyl Mason clear only for the forward to fluff his finish.

There will be no representatives from mid Cheshire in the last eight of the Cheshire FA Senior Cup after 1874 Northwich and Winsford United bowed out.

Elliot Osborne’s last-minute goal for Stockport County saw the National League North side squeeze past 1874 at Edgeley Park.

The visitors played with 10 men for more than an hour following the dismissal of debutant Steve Mason, signed from Mossley on dual-registration terms, for a foul on Sajjad Elhassan.

Northwich’s best chance fell to Callum Gardner, their match-winner against Congleton on Saturday, but he fired straight at prone Ian Ormson after the goalkeeper had parried Taylor Kennerley’s initial effort.

A Winsford team depleted badly by injuries and unavailability held their own against Chester at Barton Stadium, where the teams were tied at 0-0 by the interval.

However the visitors made their class tell in the second-half from the moment Nathan Brown broke the deadlock on 53 minutes.

He completed the scoring later after George Green, direct from a free-kick, and Iwan Murray had both found the net.

Winsford introduced in-form Lostock Gralam attacker James Dean, on target twice for the Grey Lambs in a 5-2 win at Ford Motors in the Cheshire League last weekend, as a substitute after Kallum Boyle sustained an injury.

Results

Tuesday, January 8

Cheshire FA Senior Cup

Last 16

Cammell Laird 1907 3-3 Alsager Town (Cammell Laird win 3-2 on pens)
Congleton Town 6-1 Sandbach United

Runcorn Linnets 1-1 Stalybridge Celtic (Runcorn win 5-4 on pens)
Stockport County 1-0 1874 Northwich
Winsford United 0-4 Chester

North West Counties League

Premier Division

Barnoldswick Town 4-1 Litherland REMYCA
City of Liverpool 2-1 Northwich Victoria
Padiham 1-2 Charnock Richard

First Division South

Ellesmere Rangers 1-0 Stone Dominoes
FC Oswestry Town 3-3 St Martins