Hickey hat-trick inspires Town

AN Anthony Hickey hat-trick helped Warrington Town to a resounding 5-1 victory over Prescot Cables at Cantilever Park.
Warrington backed up their impressive 4-0 victory over Garforth at the weekend with another exciting display of free flowing football as they raced into a commanding 3-0 lead after just eleven minutes.
Town manager Joey Dunn, was able to name the exact same 16 as in the previous game, the first time that this has happened this season.
As on Saturday, Town started quickly, immediately taking the game to their visitors and took the lead with their first opportunity, midfielder Matty Cross, (pictured celebrating right) scoring his second goal for the club, when his drive was spilled by the Prescot keeper, with the ball rolling back into the net.
With their tails up and the visitors looking shellshocked, Town went looking for a second goal, waiting only three minutes, before extending their lead, Lee Madin’s low cross being slammed home by the on rushing Anthony Hickey from six yards. Unbelievably, it was only three more minutes before Town added a third goal, and it was that man Hickey again, picking the ball up in the box, before advancing and shooting powerfully into the bottom corner.
With a three goal lead in the bag, the game settled down into a normal pattern of play, with both sides having their fair share of possession, but it was Town, who went close three times afterwards, first Cross shot narrowly over from an acute angle before Hickey headed over and youngster Sam Finley saw his 25 yard drive rebound to safety off the upright.
It was midway through the first half, that the visitors finally had a shot which tested Chris Oldfield, who produced an excellent low save to deny the visitors. As the half wore on, the game became scrappy, due to a large amount of free kick decisions given by the man in the middle.
Neither side could get into any kind of rhythm and the half slowly ticked towards the half time whistle, without either side creating a chance of note before the whistle.
Town started the second half, in the same manner as they began the first, and added to their lead in the 48th minute, with Madin being played through, only to selflessly square the ball to strike partner Anthony Hickey, who deservedly shot home into the bottom corner, to complete a fine hat trick.
Despite being four goals down the visitors never gave up and winger Ashley Ruane went close, but shot wide when well placed. Town continued to create chances, with captain Tom Hardwick flashing a Finley corner narrowly wide of the upright.
The visitors reduced the Town lead to three, when stirker Steven Tames was given space to bare down on goal and fired coolly beyond Oldfield and into the roof of the net.
Town thought that that they had extended their lead in the 66th minute, when Allan Collins stooped to head home full back Nick Jackson’s knock down, from close range, only to see the assistant referees flag raised. The visitors were reduced ten men soon after, for a two footed lunge on winger Allan Collins.
Despite being down to ten, it was Ruane who was next to go close, heading wide once again. With time running down, Town once again took control of the game, Louis Corrigan seeing his corss well saved, before substitute Chris Thompson could pounce on the chance.
The last chance for the visitors fell to ex Town defender Chris Rowntree, who saw his effort well saved by Oldfield at his near post.
With the 90 minutes up on the watch Town created three chances, firstly Cross shot narrowly over the bar, before substitute Rob Hardwick headed Kyle Hamid’s cross over the bar. Town finally did increase the lead, with virtually the last kick of the game, with Thompson getting on the end of Hamid’s centre to slot home, despite Rowntree being on the line, after neat build up play, particularly by Finley.
With just one defeat in their last nine league outings Warrington now travel to Bamber Bridge on Saturday, followed by a Cheshire County Cup trip to League Two outfit Macclesfield next Tuesday evening.