1874 Northwich can bounce into cup mode on the back of turning their performances around this week.

The Greens, who were all but champions of their league last season before the Covid-19 intervention, return to FA Vase action on Saturday and then start their Cheshire Senior Cup campaign on Tuesday.

They do so on the back of North West Counties Premier Division victories over Skelmersdale United, 3-1, on Tuesday, and Padiham, 2-0, on Saturday.

Those results came on the back of the previous week's disappointing displays and outcomes - a 4-2 loss at bottom side Squires Gate and a 3-2 home defeat to Irlam.

So they will welcome Harrogate Railway Athletic to Townfield on Saturday in the first round of the Vase, having knocked out Selby Town 3-0 earlier this month.

And then Sandbach United will be in town for the Cheshire Senior Cup opener.

Both opposition play a division below 1874.

They looked more like their old selves in despatching Skelmersdale in midweek, with Harry Cain on target twice and Ryan Mitchell marking his continuing comeback with the second of the three goals.

1874 responded well to falling a goal behind to a 28th-minute penalty conceded by a foul from Mitchell.

"We were really happy with the performance," said co-manager Wayne Goodison.

"From minute one we played with a really good intensity both in and out of possession.

"I think it just shows then when we do that we're a good side.

"Skelmersdale did really well, put us under a lot of pressure and we had to weather it in the first half but I think we kind of got at them a lot in the second half and that's been the story of the game at the end."

Goodison felt his players could have done more to have prevented the penalty they conceded, by being better in the play that led to Mitchell's foul.

Mitchell, returning from long-term injury, caught the eye again, as did two-goal hero Cain.

"We said on Saturday we're working Ryan back in," said Goodison.

"He played the full game on Tuesday when perhaps ideally we'd have liked to have got him off.

"He's very experienced, he's been with us a long time, he knows how we play and what we're looking for so I'm happy for him because he's been out a long time and it's difficult when you've been out like that.

"We know Harry's a real threat with the ball and on Tuesday we really utilised that.

"We've worked on a few with him the last couple of weeks with his positioning and it's really nice when you that coming off.

"But I thought he was unplayable on Tuesday. I felt sorry for the left-back."

Additional reporting: Matt Waters