Deegan celebrates with Kilheeney – PICTURES BARRIE SCHOLES
WARRINGTON Town started on non-league’s trail to Wembley with a 2-1 win at Ossett Town in the FA Trophy.
Second half goals from Ben Deegan and Ally Brown saw Shaun Reid’s side through and earned Town’s first win in the competition for six years.
It was a far from fluid performance by the visitors, who were forced to make a change from Tuesday night’s win at Ossett Albion with Conor Roberts coming in for Scott Metcalfe, left on the bench due to a minor injury worry.
Looking to make it an eighth game unbeaten, the Yellows almost got off to a dream start when Alex McQuade’s shot was parried wide inside the opening three minutes. The left-back then diverted Robers’ ball across the box over the bar after the midfielder had himself been denied.
That early flurry was to be the best Warrington saw of the first half, as the home side dictated the tempo.
A few wayward shots had been fired over the bar before Jimmy Eyles looked to have curled one in to the far corner only to be denied by a crucial fingertip save from Karl Wills.
Wills, aiming to keep his fourth consecutive clean sheet, was alert again to deny Sanchez Payne, who got a run on his man and curled one goalwards right footed, the goalkeeper getting down to hold on to the shot under pressure.
The hosts best chance came on the stroke of half time, defender T’nique Fishley left unmarked from a corner but all he could do was steer his first time effort over the bar.
Warrington needed the break to regroup and within three minutes of the restart, were in front.
Chris Gahgan’s ball from the right was diverted home by Deegan, scoring for a second successive Saturday.
Metcalfe entered proceedings on 53 minutes as a replacement for Roberts, himself the victim of a knock, and within four minutes had a telling say in the outcome of the match.
McQuade’s pass gave him space on the left to whip in a menacing cross that was headed home at the back post by right-back Ally Brown, his first goal for the Yellows.
Brown could have had his second shortly after the hour when his driven shot was parried over the bar, following Gahgan’s lay off.
The visitors looked capable of seeing the game off with the minimum of fuss, until another substitute had an impact.
Striker Ben Wharton, on for the goalscorer Deegan, was unfortunate in that his first contribution was to concede a penalty at the wrong end, bringing down Tyrone Gay as he went to clear the ball.
Up stepped Nathan Curtis, he sent Wills the wrong way, and Ossett Town had a platform to get back in the match.
It wasn’t one that they really took much advantage of and if anything, the more likely scorers in the final 10 minutes were the visitors.
Wharton, looking to atone for his earlier error, twice latched on to Nathan Burke through balls and was twice denied by Ossett goalkeeper Tom Morgan.
The win puts Warrington in the first qualifying round of this season’s FA Trophy, which ends with a final at Wembley.
To reach the first round proper, which Town have done only twice in the club’s history in 1992/93 and 2005/06, they would have to win through three qualifying rounds.
Town beat current holders North Ferriby United during last season’s memorable FA Cup run.
Heading for goal – Ally Brown scores Warrington’s second PICTURES BARRIE SCHOLES
Ally Brown celebrates his first goal for the club PICTURES BARRIE SCHOLES
Jumping for joy – Ally Brown celebrates PICTURES BARRIE SCHOLES
Ben Wharton sees an effort saved by the keeper PICTURES BARRIE SCHOLES
Ossett Town: Morgan, Lucas, Jeff, Fishley, Gay, Merris, Payne (Gordon), Ackroyd (Hepworth), Curtis, Ovington (Hamilton), Eyles. Unused subs: Smith, Farnhill.
Warrington Town: Wills, Brown, McQuade, Ventre, McCarten, O’Donnell, Gahgan, Burke, Kilheeney, Deegan (Wharton), Roberts (Metcalfe). Unused subs: Lester, Robinson, Gillespie.
