WITTON Albion will be sweating on the fitness of their prolific marksman Connor Hughes ahead of Saturday's trip to Mossley.

Hughes, the scorer of 11 goals in 12 games, suffered a knee injury in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Northern Premier League West leaders Macclesfield.

Jon Macken's side received plenty of stick from a 3,210 crowd for the six bookings received but he defended his men and highlighted that the Hughes situation showed that any physicality was not all one way.

And The Silkmen did have James Hardy sent off for an -off-the-ball incident in the 82nd minute.

"They'll complain about challenges but we'll complain about challenges as well on us. It was that type of game," said Macken.

"One of their lads went off with a knee injury which is never nice to see, and Connor Hughes came off with a similar knee injury so we've got to monitor that and see how that is.

"I thought we played some really good football and I was pleased for the lads.

"It's not an easy place to go because they are the top team but it's our job, and my job as a manager, to set a team up that's going to make it difficult and try to take points off them and that's what we did. And I thought we deserved it."

Four Albion bookings came in an 18-minute spell in the first half.

"I think they were silly bookings. I'd like to see them again because I don't think half the fouls and free kicks given were correct," said Macken.

"It's a tough job for a referee and linesmen. You just like to see a little bit of consistency and overall I don't think there was much of that."

Meanwhile, Northwich Victoria finished their 2-1 win at North West Counties League second-placed side Vauxhall Motors with only nine men after Matty Clarke and Joe Cooney were sent off 12 minutes apart late on.

Vics survived a missed penalty and a ruled out Vauxhalls leveller in the 11th minute of added time.

"I'm not going to say much about the referee because I can't," said Vics manager Steve Wilkes.

"I think the second sending off was correct because young Joe mistimed his tackle.

"To go down to nine men and still win the game shows what character we've got.

"It was never a penalty and I don't think Matty Clarke's sending off is a sending off. We'll look at that on video and see if we can appeal it."

About the performance, Wilkes said: "We played really well in the first half and scored two great free kicks.

"We knew they'd change their style second half and start lumping everything forward.

"They scored after two minutes and after that it was absolutely fantastic character from every single one of them."

Wilkes was made up with the contribution from two-goal Barski.

"They were two fantastic free kicks. I don't know what will happen about goal of the month for February because they were identical.

"Apart from his two free kicks, he marshalled our defence."

Vics host Winsford United at the U Lock It Stadium on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

"I've said to the lads if they don't win on Saturday then what they did at Vauxhalls was worthless. It was a great win," said Macken.