WARRINGTON Town kept a firm grip on the Styles & Co Peace Cup with a 0-4 victory in Northern Ireland over Crewe United.
During the weekend Town visited Lisburn City Hall for a Civic reception.They then saw Northern Ireland’s top team Linfield, play in a pre season fixture before heading over to Crewe Park for the Peace Cup.
The game started at a frantic pace, with neither side playing their best football. Chances were at a premium early on, and it was Town who almost took the lead half way through the first half, when striker Chris Thompson, saw his shot strike the cross bar, with Crewe keeper Colm Meaney beaten. Town’s young winger Nick Jackson also saw his follow up strike hit the post before the home side scrambled the ball away.
Town did take the lead around the half hour mark, when Chris Gahgan was played through and coolly slotted the ball into the net. Shortly before half time, Town almost went further ahead when centre back Tom Hardwick saw his towering header striker the cross bar and bounce away to safety.
The introduction of a number of substitutes in the second half saw both sides lose their flow somewhat and the game became a scrappier affair than previously, and neither side could find a way of scoring past some resolute defending. It took until the 69th minute for Town to go further ahead, Chris Thompson finding a fine angled drive to beat the valiant Crewe defence. Within three minutes, Town were further ahead and yet again, it was Thompson who scored, latching onto Sam Finley’s long defence splitting past to slot home past the on rushing Meaney.
A few minutes later Warrington went further ahead as the home side faded somewhat, Mike Duffy getting on the end of a fine low cross to slot home Town’s fourth goal.
The last ten minutes saw the introduction of First Team coach James Standing into the fray, replacing Thompson up front. Standing or Town could not add to the scoreline, and once again the Peace Cup returned to Warrington
Town: Pritchard, Duffy, Humphreys, Wright, Hardwick (c), Wade, Jackson, Finley, Thompson, Gahgan, O’Mahoney
Pictures show the two teams lining up before the match and Warrington captain Tom Hardwick receiving the Peace Cup from the Mayor of Lisburn.
