IT was a truly super Saturday for our football teams, with all five of our highest-ranked teams recording impressive victories.
Witton Albion and 1874 Northwich both secured their first league wins of the campaign while Winsford United kept up their perfect start to the season, and there were impressive FA Vase wins for Northwich Victoria and Barnton too, the latter being away from home to higher-ranked opponents.
Here’s a look at how each club fared…
Red-hot Witton up and running
Witton brought their shooting boots to Lichfield City, with three players netting braces in a 6-1 hammering of their newly-promoted hosts.
Freddy Garbutt, Tom Hoyle and Joe Edwards all struck before the break to put Ben Harrison’s side in full control before all three netted again during a seven-minute period after the interval, with Lichfield’s sole response coming via a late Jordan Davies consolation.
“A really good, professional performance,” said a delighted Harrison post-match.
“We were on it from the first minute, scored after 10 and just stayed on the front foot.
“When you’re 3-0 up at half time and in control, it’s not always easy to come out and go again but that was the most pleasing thing for me – within 15 minutes, we’d scored another three.
“Overall, we’re made up to get the first three points – we had banana skins last season in games where we thought we’d be the better side but slipped up, but I’m made up with that this afternoon.2
Home comforts for 1874
In their first Step Four home game for just over two years, 1874 marked the occasion in style by beating Chasetown 2-0.
Both goals came in the game’s final quarter, with Ben Crane opening the scoring for Rory Fallon’s side on 68 minutes.
John McGrath then sealed the victory from the penalty spot with 10 minutes to go after Chasetown skipper Nathan Cameron had been sent off.
“I’m a very pleased manager this afternoon,” he said.
“In your first home game of the season, there’s no better way to get off the mark than with three points and a clean sheet.
“I thought it was a really well-rounded performance – each player really put in a massive shift and we looked threatening going forward.
“We scored two goals and probably could have scored a couple more, but I can’t fault the effort and work rate of any of them.”
FA Vase progress for Vics and Barnton
Barnton pulled off an impressive FA Vase win on the road, winning 3-1 at Irlam who ply their trade a division above them in the North West Counties League Premier Division.
The Villagers recovered from falling a goal behind early after Kingsley Williams opened the scoring from the penalty spot, with Bailey Sherlock quickly equalising.
Second-half goals from Callum Sandle and Charley Jarrald then sealed the victory to leave manager Lewis Wood delighted.
“We knew it was going to be tough as they’re from the league above and always finish around the play-off spots,” he said.
“They’re a really good side and it’s hard to stop them, but we went with a press and we got a goal from it so it worked.
“We’d watched them a few times so we knew if we got it right, we could hurt them.
“That first 10-15 minutes after half time was unbelievable – we hadn’t said much other than keep believing that chances will come.
“On the form we were on today, we can hurt teams so I’m buzzing with that today – that’s a great performance.”
Northwich Victoria join their neighbours in progressing to the second qualifying round after a lightning start saw them see off New Mills 2-0 to continue their record of not having conceded a goal this season.
Anyone arriving late will have missed all of the action as both goals came in the opening two minutes, with Joe Duckworth opening the scoring before skipper Matty Clarke’s superb volley.
“Matty’s been due one and it’s a great strike – it’s probably goal of the season already,” Vics assistant manager Danny Jarrett said.
“We flew out of the traps really quickly with the two early goals, and the boys then went into cruise control.
“We peppered the box a couple of times but it was just the final bit of killing teams off when we can.
“To keep five clean sheets on the bounce, there’s something good going on in there.
“As a defender, you don’t really get much praise but they’re putting their bodies on the line and it’s great.”
Winsford United stay perfect
Winsford United picked up a routine 3-0 home victory over Uttoxeter Town in order to maintain their perfect start to the campaign.
All three goals came in the first half, Kaylan Wilkinson gave Blues an early lead after just four minutes before Henry Briscoe nodded home the second at the far post.
Danny Guiver then added a third before the break as Winsford kept up their fine early-season form.
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