WARRINGTON Town will be in the hat for the FA Trophy second round draw on Monday after a goalless draw with Altrincham.
For the second time this season, the two sides battled out a stalemate at Cantilever Park that won’t be remembered by many.
It means they will go again on Tuesday night at Moss Lane for a place in the last 32.
Having passed a midday pitch inspection, the game went ahead in freezing conditions and it was Yellows midfielder Sean Williams who first warmed a goalkeeper’s fingertips, his free kick beaten away in to the danger area on four minutes.
The visitors had the better of the opening quarter of the match, former Yellows striker Tom Peers prodding over the bar before a weaving run by Jordan Hulme took him past James McCarten and in to the box, before seeing his shot blocked.
But it was the Yellows who had the ball in the net first, on 34 minutes, through Jamie McDonald, only for a linesman’s flag on the far side to rule it out.
Altrincham started the second half brightest, working an opening for James Poole to strike over, but if they had edged the first half, the second half belonged to the Yellows.
The hosts controlled field position and possession for long periods, without really looking like creating anything.
Good pressure by McDonald and substitute Scott Bakkor forced a couple of half chances, one when the ‘keeper completely sliced a back pass up in the air which forced a defender to block Bakkor’s resulting shot.
A weak shot by Tony Gray was comfortably saved, and the best chance came on 85 minutes when another sub, Gerard Kinsella, fed Bakkor and his shot from 20 yards was tipped over the bar by Anthony Thompson.
Altrincham came close in the final minute, John Johnston cutting in from the left and having a right-foot shot deflected wide.
It means the two Evo-Stik Premier League title chasers will meet again on Tuesday night, ahead of the busy festive schedule.
Action from Saturday’s draw – picture John Hopkins
Tony Gray had a goal disallowed for off-side – Picture John Hopkins
Warrington Town: McMillan, Carden, McKeown, Jennings, McCarten, Goulding, Vassallo, Williams, McDonald, Gray (Kinsella), Barrigan (Bakkor). Unused subs: Ascroft, Milne, Davis.
Altrincham: Thompson, Densmore, Hampson, Hannigan, Harrison, Moult, Johnston, Richman (Harrop), Hulme Poole, Peers (Miller). Unused subs: Jones, Bembo-Leta, Sheridan.
