FOR a long while 1874 Northwich looked like their old selves again.

Supporters have been worried, and now they’re relieved.

A first victory of the season was not earned entirely without anxious moments, and a single-goal lead established by Scott McGowan’s perfectly-executed lob felt flimsy.

However the home team had the strength of character to hold on, and in the process boost their fragile confidence.

That will be tested by Runcorn Town on Saturday, but for now they should just enjoy a winning feeling again.

It won’t have gone unnoticed by management duo Paul Bowyer and Wayne Goodison that the calmness of debutant goalkeeper James Coates played a huge part.

They recalled Danny Thomas too, and the defender made his 150th appearance for the club.

It was a prosperous night for McGowan, who darted into a space behind Chris Tyson to meet Matty Russell’s lofted pass on 19 minutes.

His first touch tamed the ball after it bounced, his second lifted it over goalkeeper Ben Morrow and into the net.

Litherland, in stark contrast, lacked an equivalent ruthlessness in their own attack to make the most of neat approach play.

1874 circulated the ball with purpose, but chances were few at both ends.

Coates was alert when Declan Gregson’s cross threatened to sneak into the far corner, while McGowan was predatory to hook Taylor Kennerley’s flick-on straight at Morrow when a defender was favourite to intercept.

The visitors’ best chance fell to Jake Connor, ghosting in at the far post to meet Colin Quirk’s cross from the right.

However he was off-balance and couldn’t control his shot.

A rehearsed corner routine almost gave 1874 a greater advantage when Joe Woolley pulled back for McGowan.

The striker’s contact was true, but Morrow blocked instinctively with a boot.

Woolley might have settled the outcome early in the second-half when Morrow sliced a clearance straight to him.

The wide man ran clear, but hesitated long enough for a defender to throw himself in the way of his shot.

There was a sense that 1874 had their guests at arm’s length, and Kennerley’s angled volley flashed past the far post as they tried to score a soothing second goal.

Sam Freakes was next to have a sight of goal, but drilled directly at Morrow’s palms from Kennerley’s lay-off.

McGowan, unsurprisingly, went closets when he arced a first-time effort past an upright from Kennerley’s pass.

Litherland threw on veteran front man Lee McEvilly and went more direct.

It succeeded in unnerving Northwich, although that was borne too of them not wanting history to repeat from previous false dawns this season.

Only this time it didn’t.

1874 | 4-2-3-1 | Coates (GK), Tucker, Thomas, Pritchard, Russell, Matthew Woolley, Jones, Joe Woolley (Paul Connor 71), Freakes, Kennerley, McGowan Subs not used Mitchell, Waite-Jackson, Gardner, Winthrop Goal McGowan 19 Booked Russell (foul), Jones (kicking ball away)

Litherland | 4-3-3 | Morrow (GK), Jake Connor, Tyson, Riley, Gregson, Clements, Cato (Crist 81), Billington (McEvilly 71), Ryan (Foy 46), Jevons, Quirk Subs not used Dobson, Murphy

Referee Paul Stonier

Attendance 204