Northwich Victoria 1 Brighouse Town 0

VICS host Mossley tomorrow, Wednesday, with a chance to move clear at the league summit.

Abou Sanogo's goal was enough to earn Jim Gannon's side three points on Saturday when they hosted Brighouse Town at Wincham Park.

It sent Vics level on points with Warrington Town, who beat fellow title rivals Glossop, at the Evo-Stik NPL First Division North summit, with three games in hand.

But Gannon knows his side face a tricky spell in the league, with Mossley's visit followed by a trip to Prescot Cables on Saturday.

"This was the first of three games in eight days and it was important to gain maximum points," said Gannon.

"We now look forward to another tough test against Mossley."

Vics, who paid tribute to former chairman Dave Stone before kick off, started well and Josh Amis saw a header saved from Alex Byrne's cross.

They went close again moments later when Iain Howard rattled the crossbar after 16 minutes.

But the spell of pressure told two minutes later when Sanogo thrashed in a right-foot drive from 14 yards out after Jordan Williams’ low driven cross from the left.

Another wicked Williams cross from the left-hand side was deflected by Town full-back Chris Fisher goalwards and Hagreen in between the sticks made a great flying save to deny a certain goal.

Town midfielder Kurt Harris, with a deflected shot wide, had the visitors’ first attempt on goal two minutes before the break.

Brighouse came out fired up in the second half and Sam Hewitt headed just wide from close range.

Vics had chances to further their lead, Amis again seeing a header saved and Ryan Astles nodding over from Jimmy Ball's corner, but it was the hosts who were clinging on when Mike Clarke blocked a shot.

Vics Springthorpe (GK), Byrne, Duxbury, Krou, Clarke, Astles, Sanogo (Ball 46) (Ali 82), Cook, Amis, Howard, Williams Subs not used Smith (GK), Burnett, Roddy

Attendance 169