WARRINGTON Town crashed to their third consecutive defeat as they went down 4-1 at promotion chasing Skelmersdale United.
Town handed a debut to former Rochdale, Chester City and Halifax left back Matt Doughty, who signed earlier from Hyde United. Also in the starting line up was goalkeeper Paul Pritchard, who passed a pre game fitness test after leaving the field early at the weekend.
The first chance of the game fell to Town striker Chris Thompson who dragged his shot wide when through on goal. The first chance for the home side fell to defender Mike Burke, who headed over the cross bar when well placed. The home side gradually got on top without really creating many chances on the Town goal, midfielder Ken Strickland misplacing his pass when well placed.
Striker Chris Gahgan was next to go close, seeing his over head kick well saved by Skem goalkeeper Tom Brocklehurst. Against the run of play, the home side took the lead, striker Shaun Tuck, picking up the ball on the edge of the penalty area, before blasting past a statuesque Pritchard. Once again Town continued to create the best chance of the game, winger Anthony Hickey seeing his powerful drive tipped over the bar by Brocklehurst.
Three minutes later, the home side went further ahead, Tuck being given space in the box, from a corner, to head home into the roof of the net. Pritchard was called into action soon after, to deny Tuck a hat trick, with a good low save at his near post. Town got back into the game in the 38th minute, when Hickey drove home from the angle of the penalty area, after good work by midfielder Adam Wade.
Once again, the game ebbed and flowed with Burke seeing his looping header go onto the roof of the net, before Town midfielder Liam Shipton saw his drive well saved by Brocklehurst. The last chance of the first half fell to Town defender River Humphreys, whose header from the resultant corner was well saved by Brocklehurst once again, before Chris Thompson looped a header narrowly over the cross bar.
The home side took control of the second half almost immediately, with Tuck gaining his hat trick in the 47th minute, when he was given space to slot beyond Pritchard from six yards. Town tried to get back into the game, but Skem midfielder Chris Almond saw his shot smack away off the upright soon after.
A raft of substitutes from both teams saw the game lose some of its fizz, but Adam Wade went close once again, seeing his drive tipped over by Brocklehurst, before full back Mike Duffy was denied by Brocklehurst. The home side, who had the vast majority of the possession, were denied by a fantastic Pritchard save, from a powerful angled shot by substitute Daniel Smith.
With two minutes left on the clock, the home side completed the scoring. With Town pushing forward looking to get back into the game, a quick counter attack saw midfielder Ken Strickland get on the end of a fine pass to slot home.
Pictures show Sam Finlay back from suspension, new signing Matt Doughty and goal scorer Anthony Hickey celebrating in front of the Town fans.
Town: Pritchard, Duffy, Matt Doughty (d), Humphreys, Hardwick (c), Wade, Hickey, Finley, Shipton (Brown, 65), Thompson (McGowan, 62), Gahgan, subs not used: Wright, Henders, Dan Gordon (gk)
