In 1978 the club re-joined the Cheshire County League, finishing in seventh place in their first season back in the league, 1978–79. They won the league in its final season, 1981–82 before the league merged with the Lancashire Combination to form the North West Counties Football League in which they were founder members in 1982–83. In 1985–86 they were runners-up in the league, only missing out on the title on goal difference. In 1987–88 they joined the Northern Premier League in the newly created Division One, finishing in ninth place. In the 1989–90 season, they reached the First Round of the FA Cup after beating Witton Albion in the fourth qualifying round. In the first round they were drawn away to Football League club Crewe Alexandra where they lost 2–0. However, they struggled most years at the higher level of the Northern Premier League and after finishing in last place in the 2000–01 season, they were relegated to the North West Counties Football League Division One.