FROM the moment Jonny Allan steered in the opening goal there was no danger the ribbons on the trophy would not be green and white.

Northwich Victoria, ranked 70 places above their neighbours, had too much class.

Their clinical display earned a second piece of silverware for Andy Preece in his debut campaign at the helm, adding to the Cheshire FA Senior Cup won last month.

Allan’s finish, stroked past Blues’ keeper Jason Astbury from close range on 22 minutes, was applied after Ryan Broadhead had touched the ball into his path.

He angled in a perfectly-placed header 12 minutes later to double the hosts’ tally, this time meeting Jon Newby’s accurate centre after the front man had raced onto Ryan Clarke’s long pass.

That after Vics had survived an early scare.

Josh Hancock sneaked into space behind full back Mike Aspin early on, sending a cross into the late arriving Jack McKay’s path.

He hurried his shot, miscuing the ball in Steve McNichol’s direction but the midfielder had to stoop too far to be able to control his instinctive header.

Blues, battling to avoid the drop from the North West Counties League’s Premier Division, came closest seven minutes after half time.

Dave Tasker, in a rare moment when he had a sight of goal, was unlucky to see his swerving snapshot crash back off the post with Vics custodian James Spencer a spectator.

Winsford might have been punished minutes later, but Harry Winter made a mess of his finish in front of goal after Newby had teed him up.

Substitute Mark Danks, last a scorer in open play on March 13, slammed a loose ball against the crossbar on the hour after the visitors had failed to clear.

Winter made up for his earlier miss when he thumped in Vics’ third goal on 67 minutes after Riley had scampered down the left wing before squaring to the former Trafford midfielder.

Vics added gloss to their victory three minutes from time when newcomer Tom Smyth applied the finishing touch after Riley had flicked into his path.

There might have followed a fifth when Riley met Newby’s centre from the left, but Astbury blocked on the line with instinct more than reflex.

“We gave it a good go,” said Winsford caretaker manager Mike Alcock afterwards.

“The lads deserve credit for carrying on in the manner that they did when the gulf in class was so clear.”

Vics Spencer (GK), Aspin, Clarke, Smyth, Brown, Riley, Broadhead (Herring 65), Winter, Horrocks (Danks 54), Allan (Cadwallader 75), Newby
Subs not used Aspden (GK), Kerr
Goals Allan 22, 34, Winter 67, Smyth 87
Booked Riley (foul)

Winsford Astbury (GK), McKay, Jardine, Bayley, Duckworth (Capper 46), Hancock, McNichol (Hoyland 58), Bryning (Prince 46), Stevens, Edwards, Tasker
Subs not used Burns, Tice

Referee Mark Heywood (Cheshire)
Attendance 263