1874 NORTHWICH could not avoid a third successive defeat in the North West Counties League’s top-flight despite a late rally at Barnoldswick on Tuesday night.

They made three changes to a side that had lost narrowly to Northwich Victoria at the weekend, one of them enforced with Jack Pritchard ruled out by an ankle injury.

And they made the worst possible start in freezing temperatures when Lewis Morgan scored for the home team inside 60 seconds.

1874 gradually recovered and returning captain Matthew Woolley was denied when Jake McEneaney blocked his shot on the line.

Jack Irlam’s pass sent Michael Koral clear shortly afterwards only for goalkeeper Ryan Livesey to deny him with a smart save.

Barlick’s number one tipped over Scott McGowan’s shot too.

Like they had been against Vics, 1874 were sunk after conceding twice in quick succession in the second-half.

Zack Dale finished clinically to make it 2-0 on 57 minutes before Jack Coop found the net.

Management duo Paul Bowyer and Wayne Goodison sent on teenage attacker Kyle Phipps, on target for 1874’s under 21s in a derby victory against their Witton Albion counterparts on Sunday, and Callum Gardner in a bid to kick-start a recovery.

It had an impact, and McGowan reduced the visitors arrears when he reached a loose ball first after Livesey had kept out Phipps’ initial attempt.

Barlick’s custodian made a double-save to thwart McGowan and then Gardner before the latter narrowed a gap on the scoreboard with an impressive finish on 85 minutes.

Northwich applied pressure for the remainder but could no conjure an equalising goal.

Barlick | Livesey (GK), Wilson, Emery, Morgan (Hill 89), McEneaney, Airey, Dale (Foulds 70), Hill, Cookson (Amos 60), Thompson, Coop Subs not used Simpson, Vincent Goals Morgan 1, Dale 57, Coop 59 Booked Coop, Thompson, Hill

1874 | Rigby (GK), Connor, Lee Jackson, Meadowcroft (Phipps 65), Lever, Irlam, Koral, Matthew Woolley, McGowan, Hare, Kennerley (Gardner 71) Subs not used Ormrod, Waite-Jackson, Coates (GK) Goals McGowan 71, Gardner 85 Booked Koral

Referee Lewis Walton

Attendance 115