Table-topping Town celebrate FA Cup anniversary with win

VIDEO: A YEAR on from Cantilever Park’s most glorious night, Warrington Town returned to the top of the league with a 1-0 win over Bamber Bridge.

Unlike 12 months ago for the memorable FA Cup first round win over Exeter, there were no BBC TV cameras, no sell out crowd and no Football League opponent, but it was the same outcome for Shaun Reid’s side thanks to Ciaran Kilheeney’s second half goal.

The nails perhaps weren’t as worn down as last year come the final whistle, though Town made hard work of registering all three points.

These two sides were pre-season favourites for the league title and opened the season with a 2-2 draw at Bamber Bridge in the reverse fixture.

The Lancashire club have been off the pace since then, though they came close to opening the scoring when Brett Ormerod headed over from close range.

In a lively opening, Warrington came close when Chris Gahgan had a shot blocked and then Lee Dovey had to make a save from his own defender to keep the game scoreless.

The pace of the opening 15 minutes was short-lived, and the rest of the first half passed with little event.

Sam Joel flicked a dangerous free-kick straight at Karl Wills, who had a nervous moment when he spilled a header in to the path of an offside Ormerod.

The decisive moment of the game came in the early stages of the second half. Scott Metcalfe whipped in a curling free-kick from the right hand side, and it was glanced home by Kilheeney.

A torrential downpour then followed, and that resulted in the game becoming disjointed.

Ben Deegan had a chance to finish the game on the hour mark, poking just wide, though the better of the play was coming from the visitors.

The introduction of Michael Grogan from the bench bolstered Town’s midfield, and they gradually saw off the threat of Bamber Bridge.

In the end, they could have settled the nerves themselves by adding a second goal at the other end.

Metcalfe forced a smart stop from the goalkeeper with a direct free kick and then Nathan Burke weaved his way through the defence before scuffing his shot back to the goalkeeper with the goal gaping.

A draw for Glossop, and Northwich’s commitments in the FA Cup, means that the win lifts Warrington back to the top of the Evo-Stik League First Division North table.

Warrington start their defence of the League Cup when they travel to Ramsbottom on Tuesday night, before the road to Wembley continues with an FA Trophy clash at home to Basford on Saturday.

Warrington Town: Wills, Brown, McQuade, Ventre, McCarten, O’Donnell, Gahgan, Burke, Kilheeney (Wharton), Deegan (Grogan), Metcalfe. Unused subs: Robinson, Rudge, Collins.

Bamber Bridge: Dovey, Steel, Dodd, Lawler, Alexander, Platt, Booth (Linney), McKenna, Ormerod, Joel, Marlow (Wiles). Unused subs: Green, Moss, Hankin.