IF 1874 Northwich wanted to make a statement, this wasn’t what they had in mind.

The score-line speaks for itself and, statistically at least, they’ve never defended as badly.

Craig Cairns, probably the best striker in the North West Counties League, couldn’t believe his luck and unsurprisingly took no mercy.

His manager did though, and he spent the game’s final quarter watching from the bench.

Paul Bowyer and Wayne Goodison, the hosts’ management team, will learn much from how their side react in an FA Cup tie at Burscough next weekend.

There is succour, however slight, from the fact most of the woe was self-inflicted.

Josh Samberg, making his debut in goal, was twice called into action to deny Cairns in the first 15 minutes.

A second save, low to his left to divert a shot destined to creep into the corner, was a smart one.

There wasn’t much he could do to prevent David Forbes’ thumping downward header, from Luke Denson’s flag-kick, putting the Purps in front.

However the former Burscough custodian’s collision with Danny Thomas, when both men likely had one eye on Cairns who was scampering towards them after a bouncing ball, gifted to the visitors’ number nine a clear path to an open goal.

When Cairns swivelled to send his next attempt narrowly wide, 1874 teetered.

To their credit, they steadied themselves.

Callum Gardner, their other new recruit, and Sam Freakes were prominent as they pushed forward.

A reward arrived five minutes before the break when Ryan Mitchell nodded in from close range after Liverpool goalkeeper Ben Ascroft had parried Scott McGowan’s hooked attempt.

Had they held station from there, 1874 could feel optimistic.

Instead minds wandered, and Francis Foy clipped an angled pass into Cairns who had darted into the penalty area.

His shot, deflected by a desperate defender trying to recover, looped over Samberg.

There was a reminder again of 1874’s resilience when Gardner arced a stunning free-kick into the net shortly after the interval.

Ascroft, like everybody else inside Barton Stadium, could only admire as it flashed past him.

Game on? Well, not quite.

Within five minutes the away supporters were gleefully celebrating again after Karl Clair steered in Cairns’ assist.

The passage of play beforehand was the game in microcosm; an 1874 defender was forced into a mistake, hurrying a clearance after being closed down.

Forbes picked up possession, and sent an inviting pass into Cairns’ stride.

The former Runcorn Town man reached a persona treble thanks to another stroke of fortune, this time when Jamie McDonald’s shot was diverted straight to him by a blocker.

Before anybody else could blink, the ball was dispatched past Samberg.

Bowyer and Goodison sent on Kyle Riley and Jake Parker in response although it was another substitute, Liverpool’s John McGrath, who curled in a delicious sixth goal for his side from an acute angle after dancing away from Matt Russell.

Matthew Beadle, 1874’s first second-half-replacement, scored the game’s final goal from a header after meeting Gardner’s corner.

He didn’t celebrate, and nobody cheered.

There will be better days to come.

1874 | 4-2-3-1 | Samberg (GK), Connor (Riley 73), Mitchell, Thomas (Parker 72), Russell, Matthew Woolley, Jones, Gardner, Freakes (Beadle 63), Kennerley, McGowan Subs not used Woods, Winthrop Goals Mitchell 40, Gardner 52, Beadle 85 Booked Matthew Woolley, Mitchell, Kennerley (all fouls)

Purps | 4-3-3 | Ascroft (GK), Lester, Denson, Dalton, Foy, Holt, McEllin, Clair (Pepper 87), Forbes (McGrath 79), Cairns (Peterson 73), McDonald Subs not used Hazlehurst, Davies Goals Forbes 18, Cairns 21, 45 70 Clair 57, McGrath 79 Booked Forbes, McEllin, McGrath (all fouls)

Referee Anthony Ball

Attendance 433