1874 NORTHWICH have extended an unbeaten run and at the same time made a statement.

Their rivals in the North West Counties League’s top-flight can take notice but co-manager Wayne Goodison insists the intended recipients of the message are themselves.

City of Liverpool, the Premier Division leaders, had won eight of their previous nine matches on home turf this season.

That the Purps were content with a draw says plenty.

“We keep getting better and this proves it,” said Goodison.

“It’s probably one of the best performances I’ve been involved in as a coach or manager, certainly on a par with one or two games when we were on a roll last year.

“I felt we were in control and we posed them problems; they were making changes during the game to combat what we were doing and that’s a compliment to how we played.”

Northwich Guardian:

Sam Hare closes down former Witton Albion midfielder Paul Williams during 1874 Northwich's head-to-head with City of Liverpool in the North West Counties League on Saturday. Picture: Ian Dutton

1874 recalled Taylor Kennerley on Saturday while Jake Parker, who has returned to the club following a spell with Wythenshawe Town, was a substitute.

They started with promise and Jack Pritchard headed narrowly over from Callum Gardner’s cross.

Lucas Weir called goalkeeper Ben Ascroft into action with a strike from distance, while Scott McGowan fired high.

The Purps broke through in the moments before half-time.

1874 hesitated, expecting the ball to go out of play, but it was kept in by an opponents and directed to Craig Cairns waiting at the back post.

He needed no second invitation to score.

Northwich responded immediately after the interval, drawing level when Scott McGowan pounced on a rebound after Ascroft had blocked a powerful attempt from Lucas Weir.

Northwich Guardian:

Paul Connor attempts to find a way past City of Liverpool midfielder Joe Holt during 1874 Northwich's 1-1 draw with the Purps in a North West Counties League fixture on Saturday. Picture: Ian Dutton

It boosted the visitors, and Gardner’s header scraped the woodwork.

Daniel Dalton headed over for City of Liverpool, who struggled to create a clear-cut opportunity to edge ahead again.

Substitute Kazim Waite-Jackson couldn’t turn in Kennerley’s cross before Dalton timed perfectly an intervention to deny McGowan a chance to shoot.

Goodison said: “If anything, we came away disappointed not to have won.

“However we can’t feel down about that; I asked for our display to be right, and it was.

“We looked solid against a side that is free-scoring and had openings of our own.”

Purps | Ascroft (GK), Denson, Thompson, Williams, Dalton, Brown, Holt, Clair (Hazlehurst 70), Cairns, McDonald (Peterson 83), Forbes Subs not used Foy, McEllin, Scarth Goal Cairns 42 Booked Denson, Dalton, Forbes, McDonald

1874 | Coates (GK), Connor, Russell, Pritchard, Jones, Weir, Gardner (Waite-Jackson 68), Matthew Woolley, McGowan, Hare (Parker 70), Kennerley Subs not used Meadowcroft, Thomas, Ormrod Goal McGowan 46

Referee Ian Walsh

Attendance 463