A LATE rally wasn’t enough to save Warrington Town from bowing out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle against Mossley.
After Tuesday night’s FA Cup heroics against Conference North side Colwyn Bay, Town were brought back down to earth as their league rivals went 2-0 up inside 13 minutes.
Despite Steve Foster’s goal providing hope in the 85th minute, Shaun Reid’s men couldn’t find an equaliser and went down 2-1.
Ash Ruane, (pictured top) handed a rare start up front, had two early chances for the hosts, first being denied by the goalkeeper’s legs, and then firing a weak shot goalwards when through one-on-one.
But Mossley took control of the tie with two goals in five minutes. Town failed to clear the ball in the box, enabling Andrew Keogh to fire home, and then Michael Fish headed a second to double Mossley’s lead inside the first quarter of an hour.
It could have been more by the break if not for Town goalkeeper Karl Wills, who stopped a Matt Purcell shot and then denied a Fish backheel on the stroke of half time.
Warrington’s fortunes didn’t improve after the break, although Foster’s late header gave them a glimmer of hope.
Captain David Mannix struck a free kick that went close at the death, but focus will now return to next week’s huge FA Cup fourth qualifying round home tie against North Ferriby United, with a place in the first round proper at stake.
Chris Gahgan attempts a shot
Warrington: Wills, Davies (Hardwick), Corrigan, Burke, Field, Robinson, Booth, Mannix, Ruane (Wharton), Foster, Gahgan (Roberts). Unused subs: Doughty, Colbeck.
Mossley: Farrimon, Henson, McDonnel, Deaan, Granite, Devenney (Warburton), Hevingham, Pratt, Fish (Henderson), Keogh, Purcell. Unused subs: Murray, Ruiz, McGonigle.
