THE long wait for a victory is finally over for 1874 Northwich.
As they welcomed Lower Breck to Townfield Lane on Saturday afternoon, Greens’ winless run stood at a mammoth 20 matches in all competitions, with their last taste of success being a 2-0 win over Chasetown on August 15.
However, they brought that wait to an end by winning 4-2 to provide players, coaches and supporters alike with a much-needed lift.
Having taken a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Markell Foulds and Courtney Duffus, 1874 were pegged back by two goals in four minutes with Luke Gill and William Lawson striking to bring Lower Breck level.
But the hosts’ response was impressive, with Lucas Dyer restoring their lead just shy of the hour mark before Duffus’ second restored the two-goal cushion for good this time.
Both sides had a man sent off in the closing stages – Ola Ibrahim saw red for the hosts along with Lower Breck’s Liam Morris – but it did not spoil the party.
Rory Fallon’s side may still be nine points adrift of safety, but their victory at least lifts them off the bottom of the Northern Premier League West Division table.
Further up the table, Witton Albion closed in on a play-off spot by beating Vauxhall Motors 3-1 at the Bedspace Trust Community Stadium.
Ben Harrison’s side kicked on in the final quarter with the game locked at 1-1, with Freddy Garbutt’s penalty edging them back ahead before Damola Sotona sealed their victory late on.
Garbutt had put the hosts ahead early, but Kieran Hamm’s leveller had looked like earning a point for the struggling visitors until Witton’s late show.
Albion sit eighth, three points outside the play-off spots but with two games in hand on Mossley, who occupy the final top-seven spot.
Meanwhile, Northwich Victoria cemented themselves at the top of the Midland Football League Premier Division by beating their nearest rivals.
Vics were 2-0 victors at Brocton, who had started the day in second spot, with Joe Duckworth their hero with a brace.
Having put the visitors in front from the penalty spot early, the striker then sealed victory in the closing stages to ensure they lead the league on goal difference from Abbey Hulton United despite having played significantly fewer games than all of the sides around them.
One of those sides are neighbours Winsford United, who got themselves back to winning ways with a 3-0 triumph at Wythenshawe Town.
Four defeats from their previous five league games had dropped Blues from the top of the league but Kian Le Fondre’s penalty as well as goals from Dan Brown and Blake Robinson means they now sit fourth, only a point behind their league-leading neighbours.
Meanwhile, a change of competition did not knock Barnton off their stride as they kept their superb form going in the Edward Case Cup.
The Villagers progressed courtesy of a 2-0 win at Shawbury United, with Ben Mooney and Bailey Sherlock on the scoresheet for Lewis Wood’s side.
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