2 days ago
Witton progress in FA Cup, Winsford United hammer 1874 Northwich
WITTON Albion progressed in the FA Cup and Winsford United smashed 1874 Northwich in a busy afternoon of Mid Cheshire football.
Albion had to come from behind to overhaul lower level AFC Liverpool 4-1 in the preliminary round at the U Lock It Stadium but there was no doubting the outcome in the end.
Adam Moorcroft's second-minute opener for the visitors fired an early warning to Witton, who got their noses in front by the break thanks to scores from Billy Jones (26) and Joe Duckworth (40).
Two minutes into the new half Freddy Garbutt made it 3-1 to dampen Liverpool's hopes of a fightback.
The tie was sealed with Garbutt's second 14 minutes later.
Ben Harrison's side will play host to Darlaston Town in Northern Premier League West on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Winsford United sent 1874 home with their tails between their legs following a 5-1 hammering in the 'derby' at Barton Stadium.
Oli Pope was among the home heroes, bagging a hat-trick in the Midland League Premier Division encounter that attracted a crowd of 556.
Blues were 4-0 ahead inside 24 minutes, with striker Matty Birchall starting the rout with his first goal of the season in the sixth minute.
Pope doubled the lead three minutes later, receiving a ball over the top at the back post and making no mistake with finding the net from short range.
The third goal was 'ditto' the second and then Elliott Coleman produced a top-drawer finish for the fourth.
Greens then held out Winsford for 60 minutes, though they were saved by the woodwork when Birchall rattled the post.
There was no denying Winsford a fifth though and it was Pope who showed some neat control of the ball before slotting home his third in style in the 84th minute.
The closest 1874 had come was when Kyle Worsley hit the crossbar with a free-kick in the 72nd minute, before Liam Fitzpatrick netted a consolation four minutes into added time when he cut inside, beat three men and then rifled his shot into the top-left corner.
Elsewhere, Barnton netted a 4-2 home win against Wolverhampton Casuals at Townfield.
George Edwards put The Villagers ahead in the second minute but the visitors got themselves level courtesy of Connor Parker after 33 minutes.
The response was almost immediate, Thomas Matthews restoring Barnton's lead.
Callum Parker's goal four minutes into the second stanza gave his side breathing space and Jordan Sherlock's 56th-minute score put The Villagers out of sight.
Casuals' second goal from the penalty spot late on was tucked away by Kyri Kourouyianni.
