MIDDLEWICH Town’s wait to win again in the Cheshire League’s Premier Division is over after they beat Egerton last weekend.

The Witches started aggressively and Harry Short steered wide a loose ball after goalkeeper Joel Thompson had parried Dan Lomas’ shot inside 30 seconds.

Rory Gorton, played against his old teammates, had a header cleared off the line before he gifted to the hosts a lead with a spectacular own goal from a misdirected back-pass.

Chris Lunn almost added to Town’s advantage when his lob bounced in front of an empty net and agonisingly over.

They sit fifth in the table with four games left.

Lostock Gralam will fancy their chances of joining Middlewich in the top-flight after a 3-0 win at Garswood United sent them to the League One summit.

James Dean poked the ball underneath the home team’s goalkeeper to open the scoring before lifting a smartly-finished second over him to celebrate a 24th goal of the campaign.

Alex Wilson’s strike to make it 3-0, arrowed into the top-corner, meant the Grey Lambs’ lead was wide enough not to be in danger after Josh Perry’s dismissal for dissent.

Cuddington were clinical when they completed a double over Winnington Avenue 1994 in League Two.

Joe Lanceley bagged both of their goals in a 2-1 win at Moss Farm, increasing his tally to 10 in his past four appearances.

Stand-in goalkeeper Danny Hancock’s spectacular save kept out Avenue before substitute Shaun Bradley netted a consolation in added-time from the last kick of the contest.

“They were ruthless – simple as that,” said Winnington boss Lewis Wood.

Performance of the week

Middlewich Town

The Witches were convincing in a 1-0 win against Egerton, something they haven’t been during a nine-match sequence without a victory in the Premier Division.

Their margin of victory might have been wider too.

It was a symbolic day for…

Lostock Gralam

The Grey Lambs’ victory at Garswood propelled them the League One summit for the first time this season.

Their reaction to an 2-1 defeat against Vulcan last month has been emphatic; three successive wins in all competitions without conceding once.

In numbers

Middlewich shut out an opponent in a league game for the first time since November 3

What they said

“We dominated from the start and never let Winnington play.

“It’s a big three points for us at a moment when we really needed them.”

Gaz Harwood

Manager, Cuddington

Results

Cheshire League

Saturday, February 23

Premier Division: Altrincham res 1-0 Poynton; Congleton Vale 4-2 Eagle; Denton 0-2 Knutsford; Middlewich 1-0 Egerton; Pilkington 2-1 Whaley Bridge

League One: Garswood 0-3 Lostock Gralam; Golborne 1-4 Winstanley; Orford 1-6 Blacon; Styal 1-2 Vulcan; Windle Labour 7-1 Halebank

League Two: Rylands res 0-3 Mersey Valley; Sandbach Utd res 1-2 Ashton Ath res; Winnington Ave 1994 1-2 Cuddington

Reserves Division: Billinge 5-1 Orford; Daten 4-1 Moore; Eagle 4-0 Golborne; FC St Helens 5-1 Winstanley; Pilkington 0-3 Greenalls PSO; Styal 2-1 Broadheath Central