PAUL Bowyer praised 1874 Northwich’s performance in an FA Vase victory against Tow Law Town on Tuesday, using it as proof of their growing maturity.

They were impressive in attack, scoring five goals, but the co-manager told the Guardian his players’ temperament impressed him most.

He said: “They had a go at us, but we didn’t get involved.

“We expected a physical battle, and there were some tasty challenges towards the end when the game was over.

“One or two tackles might have hurt somebody, but I don’t think there was nasty intent.

“In the past we’ve been criticised for our own disciplinary record, and we’ve worked hard improving that.

“It would have been easy to retaliate, but we didn’t.”

Goals from Scott McGowan and Adam Whitlock either side of the interval put the home team in control.

Jake Parker made it 3-0 when he curved a perfectly-placed shot into the top corner.

1874 have let slip leads previously this season, but they were not knocked off course when Lewis Teasdale scored for the Lawyers.

Within 60 seconds, McGowan had nudged in his second goal of the night.

Kazim Waite-Jackson’s injury-time free-kick added gloss later.

Bowyer added: “We reminded the lads at half-time that we’d too often been in front in other games this season and not seen it through.

“We continued to take the game to them, and a second goal so soon after the interval left Tow Law playing catch-up.

“Their front players had only scraps to feed on, and I felt we looked solid.

“Our defence had to adjust slightly because they played with two strikers, something we don’t often come against these days, but they did so pretty well.

“Tow Law had a lift when they scored, and so it was good to see us respond like we did.

“That was pretty much the only chance they had in the second-half.”