WARRINGTON Town rounded off their pre-season friendlies with a 2-0 victory over local neighbours Moore United at Cantilever Park.
After an initially cautious start Town started to find some rhythm to their play and made a number of early scoring chances. Anthony Hickey came close with a header and a long range shot but both cleared the bar. Paul Pritchard had occasional involvement in on one occasion made a fine save to gather at the second attempt.
Sustained pressure from Town saw a Henders header glanced over the bar by a defender with the resultant corner also headed just wide by Liam Johnson. Town’s play was domineering but lacked the clinical finishes that should have seen us pull clear in the scoring stats that the play deserved. Kyle Hamid was to go close but shot wide and then a long range speculator by Jamie Henders cleared the advancing keeper but also the bar, just.
Anthony Hickey came close with a shot but from a Moore break advantage was played from an offside flag only for the ball to be quickly recovered and the shot required a decisive touch from Paul Pritchard to tip over. Despite an injury to Kyle Hamid temporarily reducing Town’s playing rosta to ten due to injury Town finally made a breakthrough. A ball was crossed from the left and met with a powerful header by Jamie Ralphs who nodded it in low to the bottom corner. Town made a further chance late in the half when Jamie Henders chipped the keeper but hit the bar.
Town continued to dominate after the break with Henders forcing a good save from the Moore keeper. Good passing and movement allowed Sam Finley to shoot but once more it just shaved the bar. A great diagonal ball split the Moore defence to find Chris Thompson but his shot curled away from the far post and wide. The ever lively Mike Duffy worked space down the right wing and crossed accurately to Mike Brown whose shot struck the base of the post. Town finally got a deserved second goal when more great work by Duffy on the right again found Brown who curled one in to the top corner. Thompson did well to turn and shoot but was just off target as Town looked to give the score a more flattering and truly representative appearance but it was not to be.
The real business now begins on Saturday when Warrington travel to Salford where they will face former striker Gavin Salmon.
Pictures show Anthony Hickey (top) and Adam Wade taking on the Moore defence.
