A first half strike from Isaac Baldwin was followed up with second half strikes from Tom Owens and James Hooper as Witton got the better of their neighbours at Wincham Park.

Will Booth came into the starting XI for his first Witton start of the season, while Tyrone Duffus and James Hooper made their home debuts.

It was a frenetic start as Albion created a number of opportunities to break the deadlock in the early stages.

Hooper's free-kick from 20 yards was saved by 1874 goalkeeper Nosakhare Aghayere before James Short sent over a tremendous low cross which just evaded a touch in the six yard box from Kyle Sambor or Hooper.

Tom Owens had an effort well saved and Sambor missed a golden opportunity from six yards as his shot slid off his foot and wide of the target.

Baldwin then fired a low shot which deflected narrowly wide before 1874 created some chances of their own with Harry Cain flashing a shot across the face of the goal.

Albion had another great chance as Danny McKenna won possession upfield and saw his low effort saved by Aghayere.

Cain could have opened the scoring for the visitors as he rounded Chris Renshaw but, from an acute angle, his effort was high and wide of the target.

A minute before the interval, the deadlock was finally broken when Sambor sent over a great cross to the back post where Baldwin was on hand to divert the ball into the back of the net.

The second half saw a quick start from the home side as they doubled their advantage just four minutes after the restart.

It was a scramble inside the six yard box with the ball bobbling around before Tom Owens got the decisive touch to steer it over the line.

1874 missed a great chance to get a goal back on 58 minutes when a dangerous free-kick was whipped in and Lee Jackson nipped in but sent his header wide.

On the hour mark, Chris Renshaw showed his worth with a terrific save as Taylor Kennerley struck a sweet shot on the volley only for the former Everton shot-stopper to parry it around the post.

Baldwin almost got his second of the game with a curling effort which flew just over the bar before Albion extended their lead further.

A free kick was swung in and James Hooper was unmarked to head home for a goal on his home debut.

Lucas Weir came within a lick of paint of getting a goal back for 1874 but his left footed shot rebounded back into play off the foot of the post.

Hooper could have got himself a second with a low shot well saved by Aghayere with ten minutes remaining, while his fellow home debutant Tyrone Duffus was adjudged to have fouled Cain inside the penalty area.

Up stepped Matthew Woolley with the spot kick, but as he did last Saturday, Renshaw kept it out with an excellent low save to his right.

An entertaining game, a clean sheet and three goals for Albion will boost confidence and morale in the camp ahead of a busy period of league fixtures in the coming weeks.

The result sees Witton once again in the final of the competition, with a date and opposition still to be decided.

Witton Albion: Renshaw, Baldwin, Short, Wardle, Ryan (Byrne), Duffus, McKenna, Owens, Sambor, Hooper, Booth (Foley).
Subs: Smart, Neild.