League campaign back on track

Manager Joey Dunn handed a debut

to Matty Cross at left back, following his signing from local rivals Salford

City and re-introduced Louis Corrigan to the subs bench, following a long lay

off due to injury.
It was Town that started the brightest of the two sides,

having the majority of possession and pressing forward, however, it was Railway

who had the best early chance, striker Luke Durham getting played through,

before rounding Chris Oldfield in the Town goal, only to shoot into the side

netting from a tight angle.
After this escape, Town re-established their control

of the game, with top scorer Anthony Hickey seeing his powerful shot palmed onto

the crossbar by Railway keeper Craig Parry, who quickly gathered the boucing

ball. Chris Gahgan went close to putting Town ahead soon after, narrowly missing

Jamie Henders’ teasing centre.
The home side still looked dangerous on the break

and Railway midfielder Liam Gray forced a fine save from Oldfield, before

colleague Paul Beesley missed a golden chance to give Railway the lead, reaching

a throughball before the Town defence, before bearing down on Oldfield only to

poke narrowly wide of the target.
Within three minutes of this let off, Town

deservedly took the lead, Anthony Hickey reacting well after Cross’ header to

loop a header of his own over Parry and into the net.
Once again, Town had to be

wary, and Gray forced a fine save from Oldfield with a shot from long range.

With half time quickly approaching, Town looked to add to their lead, with

Collins firing over at full stretch from an excellent pull back from full back

Mike Duffy, before Henders picked up a bouncing ball in the area, only to see

his angled drive, scrape the outside of the far post.
Right on half time, Town

did go further ahead, Allan Collins reaching a long clearance before the on

rushing Parry to head home into the unguarded net.
Town once again started

the second half the brighter of the two teams, and could have gone further ahead

in the 55th minute, when Adam Wade saw his shot blocked only for Collins to see

his follow up also blocked as Town piled the pressure on the Railway

defence.
Two minutes later Town added to their lead, Allan Collins picking up a

bouncing ball 25 yards out, before unleashing a dipping half volley that flew

just under the crossbar and gave Parry absolutely no chance. With a three goal

cushion, Town began to play with more freedom, Collins shooting into the side

netting after good build up play by his colleagues. Collins went close to his

hat trick soon after, narrowly stabbing over from Gahgan’s pass.
The

introduction of Louis Corrigan from the bench in the 68th minute, after a long

lay off with a knee injury, drew a loud cheer from the travelling support inside

Station View.
Warrington twice went close shortly after, Henders shooting wide before

Wade saw his deflected shot saved at full length by Parry. With 15 minutes to

go, Town thought they had gone further ahead, Henders seeing his effort ruled

out for offside.
With ten minutes to go, the home side pulled a goal back,

Beesley seeing his powerful drive well saved, only for substitute Byron

Littlefair to react quickest, to slot home the rebound to give the home side a

chance of an unlikely comeback.
The home side went close a minute later, when

Oldfield missed a back pass only to see the ball go into the side netting.

Despite this spell of pressure, it was Town who went closest to adding to the

score, Hickey lobbing narrowly wide of the upright, with Parry quickly

backpedalling, before the same player shot across the face as Town hit the hosts

on the break.

Town: Oldfield, Duffy, Matty Cross (D), Humphreys,

Hardwick, Wade, Hamid, Collins (Jackson, 85), Henders (Thompson, 78), Hickey,

Gahgan (Corrigan, 68), subs not used: Brown, Shipton