WARRINGTON Town crashed out of the F.A Trophy in a five goal thriller at Cantilever Park as they went down 2-3 to Sheffield FC in a preliminary round replay.
Town made one change from the first game, with Sam Finley returning from suspension, replacing young full back Nick Jackson in the starting line up. 
The visiting side took the lead within two minutes, when winger Connor Higginson was given time and space to head home in the penalty area. Warrington had begun poorly and striker Matt Glass soon went close, glancing a header over the cross bar. Town got into their stride and went close just after the quarter hour when central defender River Humphries saw his header well saved by Sheffield keeper Dan Whatsize.
This signalled the start of a spell of good possession for the home side, but they were unable to craft many good chances on Whatsize’s goal, the closest they came was when wing back Mike Duffy saw his excellent angled drive fingertipped away for a corner by Whatsize, before striker Jamie Henders stung the keepers palms with a shot that moved in the air.
Two opportunities in 60 seconds summed up the first half, first Humphries saw his drive fly narrowly past the upright before Sheffield went up the other end of the field to double their lead, Chris Oldfield missing his kick on the edge of the box, allowing Higginson to slot home into the empty net. The visitors had two more good chances before the break, Oldfield denying Higginson his hat trick from close range, before a goalmouth scramble saw Oldfield save again.
Town began the second half much brighter, after what must have been a half time roasting and it worked well as within eight minutes, Town had pulled a goal back, livewire midfielder Allan Collins, scored his first goal since returning to the club from Skelmersdale, slotting home after uncertainty in the Sheffield defence.
Town now pressed looking for an equaliser with striker Anthony Hickey (pictured) going close to adding to his brace in the first game.
Just before the hour, Town were level, Hickey slotted home an angled drive, after good work by his colleagues in the build up. Now Town were looking like favourites to win the tie, after being denied so cruelly in the first game, when Chris Gahgan saw his late effort ruled out. Soon after Hickey headed wide of the upright. As the second half wore on, the visitors once again, went close to re-taking the lead, when Oldfield pushed Ashley Longstaffe’s goalbound effort onto the post and away to safety.
With 12 minutes to go, the visitors re took the lead, captain Andrew Gascoigne poking home a free kick from close range. Town went looking for another equaliser, and three minutes later had their prayers answered, when Whatsize pushed Hickey over in the process of collecting a corner. Whatsize made up for his error, by saving Hickey’s penalty, diving full length to his right, however he was powerless to save Finley’s follow up, which was ruled out as substitute Chris Thompson got a touch on the line.
Sheffield’s last chance fell to substitute Matt Roney, who saw his effort saved at close range by Oldfield. Try as they might, Town could not find an equaliser, going close through Gahgan, who saw his shot go too close to Whatsize
It was Sheffield’s first ever victory at Cantilever Park.
Town return to league action with a trip to Harrogate on Saturday, kick off 3pm.
For pictures from the game CLICK HERE
