WARRINGTON Town extended their unbeaten run to five games with a hard earned point in a 1-1 draw at Mossley last night.
Warrington made the worsed possible start, as the home side took the lead, within half a minute of kick off, striker Lee Rick being given time and space in the penalty area to blast beyond Chris Oldfield and into the roof of the net. Town, who were missing ever present central defender River Humphreys from the matchday squad, immediately looked to get back into the game, Sam Finely seeing his free kick fly narrowly wide of the upright, before striker Anthony Hickey shot across the face of the Mossley goal after a jinking run took him into the penalty area.
Town had a great chance of equalising, in the 13th minute, Hickey latching onto strike partner Chris Thompson’s clever through ball only to slice his shot wide of the target from six yards.
Warrington were playing the better football of the two sides, having the majority of the possession, Hickey once again going close, this time being denied by an excellent last gasp challenge from Mossley defender Peter Band.
The home side did create the occasional chance, with midfielder Ben McNamara shooting straight at Oldfield from distance. Town did manage to test out home keeper Martin Pearson, but Chris Thompson’s effort from Finley’s pull back was too close to the custodian.
Just before half time, the home side had their best spell of the game, in terms of chances, full back Cavell Coo screwed his shot wide of the post before winger Joe Heap saw his powerfully struck drive evade everyone in the six yard box and roll to safety.
The last chance of the first half fell to Town winger Louis Corrigan, who saw his shot blocked after neat build up play by his colleagues around the edge of the penalty area.
The second half lacked the fluency of the first half from the off, with neither side able to keep possession of the ball for long, both sides often misplacing passes on the heavy undulating surface of Seel Park, which took more of a toll as the game wore on.
Town did however, manage to find the equaliser their play deserved in the 56th minute, when Anthony Hickey’s hanging cross, was fingertipped by Pearson straight into the path of left sided defender Matty Cross, who scored his first goal for the club, with a fine diving header from close range.
Shortly afterwards, Joey Dunn, introduced Lee Madin into the game, who recently re-signed for the club after appearing for Prescot Cables in recent seasons. Just before the hour mark, the home side thought they had gone ahead, substitute Nathan Taylor seeing his low angled drive ruled out for offside.
As the game wore on, the play became littered with poor play from both sides, who gave the ball away with remarkable frequency, never allowing themselves to get into a rhythm to really take the game by the scruff of the neck and to ensure three points for themselves.
The home side had their best spell of the half after the hour mark, forcing Oldfield into three saves, one of which was a top drawer effort to deny Rick a second goal.
Town came close to scoring with eight minutes left, Allan Collins, only being able to head substitute Adam Wade’s cross, straight into the grateful arms of Pearson at the far post. The games last chance fell to Finley, who saw his curling shot well saved by Pearson, as both sides had to settle for a point, in what cannot be described as a classic encounter.
Town: Oldfield, Jackson, Cross, Duffy, Hardwick, Hamid, Collins, Finley, Hickey (Lee Madin 57 (d), Thompson (Shipton, 78), Corrigan (Wade, 78), subs not used: Henders, Brown
Pictures show Matty Cross celebrating his first goal for the club and new signing Lee Madin and Allan Collins taking on the Mossley defence.
