SCOTT Metcalfe’s stunning half-volley earned Warrington Town a 1-1 draw at home to Farsley Celtic.
In what was a repeat of the Doodson Sport Cup final back in April, when Town were victorious on penalties, both goals came within the space of three minutes.
Lewis Nightingale cut in from the right and fired home low and left-footed past Karl Wills to give Farsley the lead on the hour.
Warrington hit back just minutes later when Metcalfe brought down Alex McQuade’s ball down the left flank and then hit a fierce shot that went in off the inside of the far post.
The visitors came to Town without a goal or a point in their previous two fixtures and with Tom Taylor in goal, were always going to be hard to break down.
James McCarten and Daniel O’Donnell continued in the centre of defence for Town, following Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Radcliffe, meaning no place for club captain Craig Robinson, who was an unused substitute.
The first half was by and large a drab affair, with neither side looking capable of creating any clear cut chances, and both pairs of centre halves were dealing comfortably with the attacking threat.
A stooping header for Chris Gahgan was about the closest Town came, although Ciaran Kilheeney showed good skill to nutmeg his man on the byline and fire over a cross that was beaten away by Taylor with Steven Gillespie ready to pounce.
Warrington ended the half strongest, forcing a succession of corners that ultimately came to nothing.
The second half continued in a similar vein, Aiden Savory struggling to get past McCarten for Farsley, and when he did was unable to pose too much of a threat for Wills in goal.
An early change saw Ben Wharton introduced in place of Gahgan, but it failed to change the pattern of the game.
Nightingale and Metcalfe exchanged their goals in three minutes around the hour mark and the latter looked to have given the hosts some momentum.
Kilheeney lifted the ball over two players and saw his shot pushed away by Taylor, and the best chance went to Wharton who should have done better when heading over the bar from Metcalfe’s accurate left-wing cross.
Farsley almost snatched it at the death, goalscorer Nightingale cutting in from the left this time and hitting a rising effort with his weaker right foot that fizzed just over the bar.
Warrington are next in action on Tuesday night, when they travel to Burscough (7.45pm).
Warrington Town: Wills, Brown, McQuade (Roberts), Ventre, McCarten, O’Donnell, Gahgan (Wharton), Burke, Kilheeney, Gillespie, Metcalfe. Unused subs: Robinson, Noon, Collins.
Burscough: Taylor, Harrison, Serrant, O’Brien, Riley, Wigley, Nightingale, Daly, Hancock (Guest), Savory, Stevens. Unused subs: Sugden, Jenkinson, Grant, Lofthouse.
Ben Wharton attempts a a header in the box PICTURE JOHN HOPKINS
Chris Gahgan controls the ball PICTURE JOHN HOPKINS
Nathan Burke is thwarted by the keeper PICTURE JOHN HOPKINS
