1874 Northwich co-manager on Northwich Victoria draw

At 3-0 down and staring an ignominious defeat to neighbours Northwich Victoria in the face, not many inside Wincham Park could see what happened next coming.

Not for the first time, Scott McGowan proved the difference as his superb hat-trick allowed his side to rescue a point.

It was a draw that added another point to their cushion at the top of the North West Counties League Premier Division and one that Goodison was in no doubt they deserved.

“We were disappointed that we didn’t play the game we normally play in the first half,” he said.

“We fell into the trap of hitting long balls back to them and it gave them possession back.

“All three goals aren’t great from our point of view, but they’ve got so much credit in the bank this season.

“To come back and show that amount of spirit was unbelievable. You couldn’t really deny that we deserved it from our second-half performance.

“We had so much possession and we played the game we’ve played all season.

“We moved them about and they probably tired towards the end because we just stayed patient.”

McGowan started the fightback just seconds after Brad Lynch had put Vics 3-0 up with a superb long-range strike that went in via the post.

He then curled in exquisitely with his left foot before crashing home a volley two minutes from time to complete his treble.

Bouncing back so strongly from falling three goals down less than a minute after the break was an undoubted turning point for Goodison.

“As he goes to hit the first one, we’re thinking “come on Scotty, don’t hit it from there” but it’s a great strike,” he said.

“Once that one goes in, we knew we were going to keep creating chances.

“I think they knew that as well. They sat deeper and deeper and we got after them.”

1874 turn their attention to cup matters this week – they travel to Maine Road in the Macron Cup quarter finals on Saturday before returning to Wincham Park on Tuesday for a Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup semi final against Witton Albion.