NORTHWICH Victoria will face a stern test of their new-found position at the top of the table when they visit Brocton on Saturday.
Vics took over top spot in the Midland League Premier Division thanks to Tuesday night's 3-1 home victory against Cheadle Town.
Only one point separates the top five sides on the ladder, but Lee Duckworth's side are in a strong position with at least three games in hand on all sides currently in the play-off spots.
Brocton are currently second in the table and will be seeking to depose Vics from the throne in Saturday's meeting – and then Vics visit Stone Old Alleynians on Tuesday.
Vics' win in midweek was not convincing, as Cheadle had two players sent off and yet the scoreline remained 2-1 until Elliot Rokka wrapped it up in the fifth minute of added time.
Rokka put Vics in front in the 27th minute but when Dan Okeke was shown the red card for a studs-up tackle in the 42nd minute it seemed to inspire the visitors.
On the stroke of half time Benson-Brewer broke quickly down the right and slotted the ball under Andre Mendes to put the teams level at half time.
Vics generally had a lot of possession in the second half but struggled to break Cheadle's 10 men down.
They finally got their second goal in the 62nd minute when Joe Duckworth was again the architect as he cleverly pulled the ball across the box for Will Lloyd to strike home.
Four minutes later, Cheadle were reduced to nine men as Harley Monaghan was shown a second yellow card.
Cheadle's nine men worked their socks off before Duckworth did well to cross low for Rokka to come in at the far post and slam the ball past the keeper.
In the same league, Winsford United's drop-off in results continued in midweek.
They never really got going as they fell 2-0 at home to 14th-placed Stockport Georgians.
Winsford, who were the season's early pacesetters, are now without a win in their last seven matches in all competitions and have slipped to fifth in the Premier Division table.
They will look to get back on track when they head to 13th-placed Wythenshawe Town on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Witton Albion and 1874 Northwich were handed defeats in Northern Premier League West on Tuesday night.
Witton were hammered 4-1 at Atherton Collieries, with manager Ben Harrison apologising to the fans afterwards for the “implosion” which saw his side concede three times in 12 minutes either side of half time.
Lewis Crane pulled a goal back in the 59th minute but Kielen Adams added his second to conclude events in the 89th minute.
For Witton, who are eighth in the table, it was a third defeat in four games and they will be looking to improve that record when they host 19th-place Vauxhall Motors on Saturday before their visit to high fliers Prescot Cables on Tuesday.
1874's sequence without a win extended to 21 matches when they lost 1-0 at home to Kidsgrove Athletic.
They were always in the contest but were undone by Kryon Cooper's 84th-minute goal.
1874 have made three signings over the past week.
Defender Markell Foulds has returned to the club, midfielder Jaden Jones has arrived after spending some time in Croatia playing for NK Hrvace, while 19-year-old left-back Lucas Dyer has been recruited from Isthmian Premier Division side Carlshalton Athletic!
Meanwhile, two cup games beckon for Barnton.
They go to Shawbury United in the Edward Case Cup second round South on Saturday before entertaining Runcorn Linnets in the Cheshire Senior Cup second round on Tuesday.
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