Fightback earns Warrington Town deserved win

A LATE fightback breathed life in to Warrington Town’s season with a 2-1 win at Trafford.

Following Saturday’s disappointing FA Cup exit against Abbey Hey and the 4-1 humbling at Burscough in midweek, Town were desperate to avoid a third defeat in six days in this Bank Holiday Monday clash.

For a time, it looked like despite their much improved performance was to be fruitless, after falling behind to a soft second half penalty.

But quick fire goals from Scott Metcalfe and James McCarten in the final 10 minutes earned Town a win that their renewed positivity and team spirit had deserved in a display that will offer encouragement to Shaun Reid and his coaching staff.

Town started on the front foot and an early corner from Danny Ventre had Trafford goalkeeper Luke Pilling, on loan from Tranmere Rovers, scrambling to tip the ball over the bar.

Former Football League striker Steven Gillespie looked a threat for Town as his partnership with Ciaran Kilheeney enjoyed probably its best half of the season to date. Gillespie had the ball in the back of the net on seven minutes when he nodded home Nathan Burke’s cross, only for the offside flag to be up against Burke who had latched on to the tireless Kilheeney’s lay-off.

Gillespie should have done better with a headed chance on 31 minutes, struggling to get power on to the ball from Ally Brown’s right wing delivery, and the half ended goalless.

An enforced half time change saw Gillespie, who picked up a knock in the closing stages of the first half, replaced by Karl Noon, while Trafford themselves made a change having been largely outplayed in the opening 45 minutes.

The changes did boost Trafford, and they started to gain a foothold in the game. Two diving blocks by Ventre and Craig Robinson kept out goal bound shots, with goalkeeper Karl Wills left without a shot to save in the entire match.

The only shot of note he did face came on 67 minutes from the penalty spot. Metcalfe had gone in with a similarly committed block, and as he got up inadvertently brought down an attacker to concede the spot kick. Up-stepped Chris McDonagh, a nuisance to the visiting centre halves all game, and his relatively weak penalty went under Wills to give Trafford the lead.

That prompted the introduction of Ben Wharton, though as the game entered the last 10 minutes, Town were yet to create a clear cut opportunity in the second half, even if the scoreline didn’t paint a picture that fit the game being played.

It looked like the best chance would come from a set piece, and it was from a third consecutive corner that they got back on level terms on 83 minutes, Metcalfe’s inswinging delivery evading everyone and finding its way in to the net at the far post.

The goal gave the visitors renewed home and two minutes later they took the lead. Ventre’s corner from the opposite side was flicked on by McCarten at the near post and flashed past the ‘keeper and in to the back of the net.

As the final few minutes passed there was concern for Town manager Reid, who fell ill in the away dugout, and was taken away in an ambulance following the game.

His side held on for their second win of the season, which lifts them in to the top half of the table.

A club statement after the game said: “We would like to thank everyone for all your concern and get well wishes for Shaun Reid. The family would like to be left alone at this moment in time and would appreciate if well wishes could refrain from posting on Facebook and Twitter.

“Shaun is awake and talking and awaiting further tests. At this moment in time the doctors suspect a burst blood vessel but nothing has been confirmed.”

Trafford: Pilling, Haslam, Caldecott, Ledson, Granite, Lafferty, Rick, Reece, Duggan (Shuker), McDonagh, Dorney. Unused subs: Shaw, Lambert, Palmer, Pritchard.

Warrington Town: Wills, Brown, McQuade, Ventre, McCarten, Robinson, Gahgan (Wharton), Burke, Kilheeney, Gillespie (Noon), Metcalfe. Unused subs: O’Donnell, Roberts, Young.

PICTURES JOHN HOPKINS & BARRIE SCHOLES

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