MIDDLEWICH have achieved something already that they didn’t last season – beating Tarporley away from home.

It is the perfect way to start a new campaign they hope ends in promotion back to the Cheshire League’s top flight after three years away.

They looked more likely scorers during the first half, going closest when Sam Wakefield narrowly failed to make contact with Chris Lunn’s cross at the back post.

The Witches, who lost this fixture 3-0 last August, took the lead on 36 minutes, when Ed Marsh timed his run to meat Dean Burgess’ driven pass.

Goalkeeper Dave McNeil blocked his initial effort, but he scored at the second attempt.

A second goal followed from the penalty spot after the interval, Marsh converting with power after his dribble was cut short by a defender.

Wakefield then shot straight at McNeil when the two came face-to-face.

The hosts’ custodian inexplicably gifted the visitors a third goal on 69 minutes, fumbling the ball into Lunn’s path.

Despite the best effort of a recovering back-marker, his shot found the net.

Tarporley reduced their arrears with 15 minutes left, from a free header at a corner, but by then the outcome had long since been settled.

Town play next at home to promoted Mersey Valley next Wednesday, kick off 6.45pm.

Middlewich | Masters (GK), Whitehead (Weedall), Robinson, Burgess, Wade, Basford (Horne), Marsh (Morana), O’Sullivan, Lunn, Wakefield (Smith), Morris