CALLAM Gardner hailed the team performance, not his stunning late winning goal, as 1874 Northwich kept their winning run intact at Skelmersdale United, writes Mike Parsons and Matt Waters.

After trailing 2-0 at half-time, it was all on for the North West Counties Premier Division league leaders to rescue the contest.

But they did so in breathtaking style after dominating the second half and bagging their 10th successive win five minutes into added time.

Winger Gardner got on the end of a wonderful long pass from Lee Jackson, showed sublime skill to bring the ball under control and fired low into the far corner to spark ecstatic scenes on the terraces among the travelling faithful.

"I never take credit, " said Gardner, who had also started the comeback with a penalty strike in the 50th minute and has now clocked up six goals in the last five games he has started.

"It's always pleasing to score but getting the three points at this point of the season is vital.

"That was a proper team performance.

"At 2-0 down everyone dug deep, winning second balls and the headers.

"I wouldn't say Skelmersdale are a bad side, because they played the pitch well, but it was great resilience from the team to come back.

"We didn't force things. We tried to play, we tried to do our thing which is what's got us into this position at the minute."

1874 had no game in midweek but return to home action on Saturday when they host Runcorn Town at Townfield, kick-off 3pm.

They played out a five-goal thriller in the reverse fixture on August bank holiday Monday when a late penalty from Scott McGowan sealed a 3-2 win for 1874.

On Tuesday they visit higher league Warrington Town in the quarter-finals of the Cheshire Senior Cup, kick-off 7.45pm.

Nathan Okome has left 1874 Northwich to join Sandbach United.