TAYLOR Kennerley scored a goal in each half to secure for 1874 Northwich only a second win of the season.

And they achieved it after making five changes, most of them enforced, from a side that started a 2-1 reverse at Runcorn seven days earlier.

Among them was a debut for new recruit Jack Irlam.

The visitors always posed more of a threat, and both Kazim Waite-Jackson and Kyle Riley sent attempts off-target in the early exchanges.

Kennerley was more accurate midway through the opening period, drilling a loose ball into the net through a crowd of bodies after Callum Gardner’s initial attempt had been diverted into his path by a boot of goalkeeper Marcus Burgess.

Irlam, a former Barnton and City of Liverpool midfielder recruited from Runcorn, was next to go close when he fired wide from outside of the penalty area.

Meanwhile West Didsbury & Chorlton drew level after half an hour when Merizel Dos Santos’ attempt from distance squirmed past custodian James Coates after taking an awkward bounce.

Taylor Kennerley, second from left, receives congratulations from his 1874 Northwich teammates after scoring at West Didsbury & Chorlton on Saturday. Picture: Ian Dutton

Gardner started the second-half by cutting in from the right and shooting narrowly wide before supplying a cross that Kennerley diverted past an upright.

Jack Pritchard, standing in as captain with Matthew Woolley unavailable, did the same from a corner.

At the other end, former Witton Albion midfielder Joe Shaw’s strike was too high before Dos Santos was unlucky to see another speculative attempt strike the crossbar.

Management duo Paul Bowyer and Wayne Goodison sent on Lucas Weir, promoted from the club’s under 21s side, as a substitute for Sam Freakes after he suffered an injury.

The youngster made his mark with a pass for Kennerley, and his centre was sliced wide by Kyle Riley.

Kennerley continued to pose a threat, and Burgess blocked his next effort.

However he could do nothing to stop the wide man from directing a powerful header past him when he connected with Paul Connor’s cross from the right on 74 minutes.

It proved decisive despite West’s best attempts to level again.

Scott Mason failed to test Coates, who was equal to Saul Henderson’s shot with time running out.

West | Burgess (GK), Tinker, Woods, Andrews, Jonathan Mason, Eckersley, Scott Mason, Roberts, Henderson, Shaw (Tsegay 72), Dos Santos (Whyment 81) Subs not used Eiselt, Jones (GK), Brew-Butler Goal Dos Santos 30

1874 | Coates (GK), Connor, Tucker, Pritchard, Thomas, Freakes (Weir 55), Gardner, Irlam, Riley, Waite-Jackson (Winthrop 70), Kennerley Subs not used Meadowcroft, Lever, Stevenson (GK) Goals Kennerley 20, 74 Booked Tucker

Referee Liam Corrigan

Attendance 364

Match report by Garry Clarke