STEVE Wilkes’ reign as Northwich Victoria manager has ended on a winning note.
A strike from Kuda Chingwaro in the 68th minute ensured Vics ended the 2022/23 season with a 1-0 win at Burscough.
Chingwaro got on the end of a through ball and coolly slotted past home goalkeeper Charles Monks to seal his side’s 25th win of the season.
Vics finish the campaign fifth on the North West Counties Football League Premier Division ladder as a result.
Wilkes handed in his resignation to the club’s committee on Monday after having been in charge since September, 2017.
In a statement, Wilkes said he feels he is unable to take the club onto the next level and that the travel commitments involved with the job were taking their toll.
The high point of his time at the helm was leading The Trickies to the brink of a Wembley appearance in 2019, only to fall on penalties against Chertsey Town in the semi-finals of the FA Vase.
Elsewhere, Witton Albion ended their campaign with a 0-0 draw at home to City of Liverpool.
Albion’s draw at Hanley Town the previous weekend meant they were no longer in a position to qualify for the play-offs.
The one point gained at the U Lock It Stadium today means they finish the first season under Jon Macken sixth on the Northern Premier League West table, four points adrift of fifth-placed Runcorn Linnets.
1874 Northwich, whose 4-3 home win against Workington last week ensured they would not be facing a relegation play-off dogfight, lost 1-0 at Widnes and finish the season in 14th spot.
Laurence Smith scored the 65th-minute winner for the hosts, firing low and hard into the bottom corner.
Next weekend a 10-year anniversary celebration of 1874 will take place at Townfield, from 1pm.
It will feature a legends versus legends match, juniors and walking football, barbecue and bar.
Winsford United’s season ended 5-1 at Bury FC, leaving them with a 17th-place finish.
Dan Boden put Blues ahead in the 10th minute but Bury responded and led 2-1 at the break before going on to win comfortably.
Connor Comber netted a hat-trick for the hosts.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here