BIG SPENDING Salford City, taken over by the Manchester United “Class of 92” over the close season, ensured Warrington Town’s season got off to a losing start on Tuesday night.
Gary and Phil Neville were in attendance and they saw former Manchester United trainee Danny Webber and Gareth Seddon score first half goals to earn a 2-0 win for the visitors.
Webber’s goal was a real touch of class, gifted possession by Town centre-half Craig Robinson, he ghosted past one defender and then finished with the outside of his right foot in to the far corner.
That came on 22 minutes, and the lead was doubled on the stroke of half time, as Seddon struck a half-volley from all of 25 yards which looped over Karl Wills and in to the back of the net for a spectacular second.
It was a bad time to concede for Town who had managed to create a handful of at least half chances during the opening 45 minutes.
Scott Metcalfe, a former Salford player, found space in the box inside the opening two minutes, only to guide the ball wide of the goalkeeper’s right hand post, and he had a shot saved by Thomas Stewart on 15 minutes after Ben Wharton’s run and cross from the right.
Wharton’s strike partner Chris Simm also had a chance, seeing his shot deflected wide from Louis Corrigan’s cross.
Left with a mountain to climb at the break, Town almost got off to the perfect start in the second half, when Wharton glanced a header wide from a Corrigan corner.
Simm too perhaps should have done better when Conor Roberts’ ball down the right released him on goal, only to see his shot hit the side netting.
After weathering that small storm, Salford sought to comfortably see the game out, and centre-backs Chris Lynch and Paul Linwood rarely seemed trouble.
They created chances of their own on the break, Seddon’s mazy run forcing a save from Wills, with the ball ending up in the net off the rebound, but a flag was up for offside.
Wills was also called in to action, making a comfortable save to his left, when Sam Madeley curled a free-kick, that he had won himself, on target.
Warrington are next in action against Ossett Town at home on Saturday (3pm).
Pictures (from top) Warrington’s Louis Corrigan, Anthony Hickey and Chris Simm in action against Salford City.
Warrington: Wills, McCarten, Doughty (Jones), Corrigan, Robinson (Davies), Hardwick, Roberts, Parle, Wharton, Simm (Hickey), Metcalfe. Unused Subs: Gahgan, Mooney.
Salford: Stewart, Edghill, Smart, Jarrett, Lynch, Linwood, Dunn, Platt (Rother), Webber (Walters), Seddon, Madeley. Unused subs: Wiles, Marsh, Warrender.
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