Jack Owen brings us the full story of 1874 Northwich's 2-0 defeat to Marine on Saturday...

TWO first-half goals from the visitors was enough to condemn 1874 to a fourth defeat of the season in front of a healthy crowd at Townfield.

Goals half an hour apart in an impressive first half from the league favourites saw 1874 with too much to do in an improved second half where Ash Woods come closest to sparking a come back.

The game started off brightly for 74 – Jake Parker was on the end of a flowing move down the left, he cut inside and looked to bend one in to the top right corner. However, his effort had a little too much power and went over the crossbar of Passant in the Marine goal

The first corner of the game saw the first goal. A delivery from the left was punched away by Aghayere only as far as Ryan Wignall, who advanced on to the loose ball to slam home a half volley in to the top corner.

Aghyere and the 74 players protested about the stopper being held by Neil Kengni but the appeals were waved away.

Just as 74 began to put together a sequence of pressure and attacks on the Marine defence, they doubled their lead from another set piece.

Danny Shaw rose highest at the back post to power a header in to the goal, leaving Aghayere with no chance.

Marine then had a chance to put the game beyond doubt, Jack Marrow produced a great block to deny Owen Watkinson however the ball bounced perfectly in to the path of Kengni 10 yards out, but Aghayere was equal to it and produced a fantastic save to give 74 hope

On the hour mark, three changes were made and this seemed to spark 74 into life, with the best chances of the half coming from two substitutes combining.

Taylor Kennerley was played in by Sam Hare down the left flank and his cross looked to find Woods waiting in the middle, but a huge interception from Dean Winnard put it behind for a corner

The subsequent corner found Woods unmarked however his header was straight at Passant and the stopper held smartly.

Mike Koral overlapped from full-back to strike at goal, only for another great piece of defending to deny 74 a goal.

Down the other end Marine came close to adding another as Wignall cut inside Mark Jones and bent a shot wide of the goal.

74 had a free kick late on, Callam Gardner delivered only for Marine to defend well and see the ball out, which saw the final whistle sounded to bring an end to the game.