Bumper crowd watch Town go six points clear at the top

VIDEO: WARRINGTON Town moved six points clear at the top with a 4-2 win over nearest rivals Northwich Victoria in front of their highest league crowd for more than five years.

A 1095-strong crowd saw 10-man Northwich come from 3-0 down in the final 15 minutes to almost pull off an unlikely comeback, before the excellent Ben Deegan made sure of the points in injury time to extend Warrington’s unbeaten run to 10 games.

Northwich had dropped just five points in their 20 league games prior to this one, and still have four games in hand on Town, and the hotly anticipated clash in what many regard as a two-horse race for the league got the fans out in numbers.

Warrington themselves boasted a similar record over their past 20 games, and went in to the game having lost only twice in the league all season.

The game took an early twist when Northwich, who started spritely, were reduced to 10 men after Muhamed Ali hauled down Chris Gahgan as he raced through on goal.

The numerical disadvantage didn’t seem to have too much of an effect on the game as the snow, rain and freezing temperatures took their toll on a hard pitch that the Warrington ground staff had worked on tirelessly in the morning to ensure the game could be played.

After Iain Howard’s awkward shot was stopped by Karl Wills, Town took the lead on the counter attack.

It was one of many examples of fine hold up play by Town forward Deegan that set up the goal, the big man carrying the ball forward and then back heeling through a gap when there was nothing on, and Nathan Burke hit his shot first time and past Vics ‘keeper Mason Springthorpe, a former Everton academy player.

Deegan and strike partner Ciaran Kilheeney were proving a handful for the Northwich defence, though the visitors generally had more of the possession in the first half.

As half time approached, Deegan slipped as he played a ball forward, only for the unfortunate Scott Duxbury to slip too, with the ball inadvertently coming off him and releasing Kilheeney through on goal, and Town’s top goalscorer didn’t need a second invitation to double his side’s lead in first half injury time.

That gave Town a cushion going in to the second half, and they set out solidly after the break. More brilliant hold up play by Deegan created another chance, his fizzing ball across the box evading everyone, before at the other end Stuart Cook saw his left foot shot comfortably stopped by Wills.

On 67 minutes, Town struck a third goal. Another hesitant piece of defending enabled Kilheeney to get in behind, and again he showed a clinical touch to score his seventh goal in six games.

That looked like being the game for Town, but it was to be far from the case. Howard gave Northwich a foothold on 75 minutes with their opening goal, and they very nearly accepted that invitation with both hands.

Their second goal was a fine strike, Richard Bennett hitting a bouncing ball left-footed and in to the top corner to set up a tense final nine minutes.

As the visitors pushed forward, they became susceptible on the break and on 86 minutes, Town really should have made sure when substitute Scott Metcalfe somehow steered wide with the goal gaping after Gahgan’s lay-off.

In the end, it didn’t matter, but it sure would have eased the heart rates of the majority of the crowd, Town’s biggest in the league since Chester visited Cantilever Park back in August 2010.

As it was, Town were able to have the final say, Deegan getting the goal that his efforts more than deserved, latching on to a poor clearance by Springthorpe and then holding off a couple of defenders to finish the chance.

Town move six points clear at the top ahead of Monday’s trip to Brighouse, though Northwich still have four games in hand. The two sides meet again in March.

Warrington Town: Wills, Turner, McQuade, Ventre, McCarten, O’Donnell, Gahgan (Holt), Burke, Kilheeney (Beattie), Deegan, Dean (Metcalfe). Unused subs: Robinson, Rudge.

Northwich Victoria: Springthorpe, Byrne, Duxbury, Krue (Sanogo), Clarke, Ball, Ali, Roddy, Bennett, Howard, Cook. Subs: Summerskill,  Amis, Burnett, Smith.