WARRINGTON Town produced arguably their best performance of the season to clinically move into the second round of the Doodson Sport Cup, courtesy of a stunning 7-1 away win at league leaders Mossley.
Both managers took the chance to name several changes from the teams who played out a 0-0 draw at The Abacus Solicitors Community Stadium three days earlier.
With so many changes, it was no surprise that the early encounters were tentative, the best early chance falling to Mossley striker Lutel Williams, who shot straight at Town keeper Andy Robertson.
Town suffered a blow shortly afterwards when towering centre half James McCarten suffered a groin injury and had to be replaced by substitute Mike Reid.
The change spurred Town into life, and it was Kevin Townson who was next to go close, shooting too close to Mossley keeper Ashley Gotham when well placed. Town suffered another blow, when Reid (pictured above) was stretchered from the field, with a potentially serious knee injury, to be replaced by Ash Ruane. 
Despite the changes, Town continued to press forward looking for an opening goal with Allan Collins shooting narrowly over the bar before the home side forced Robertson to produce a fine double save to keep the scores level. Town opened the scoring in the 34th minute, winger cum emergency left back Ryan Gratton getting on the end of some neat build up play and his low cross was smashed home by the on rushing Townson from close range.
With their tails up, Town continued to control the game, John Miles seeing his fine free kick pushed away at full length by Gotham, before the same player was forced to push a Phil Mooney shot onto the crossbar and behind. On the stroke of half time, Town extended their lead, Collins seeing his shot strike the inside of the upright, and rebound straight into the path of Townson, who stooped to head home, past a flailing Gotham.
The second half started as the first half had ended, with Town in control of proceedings, and six minutes into the half, Town extended their lead courtesy of Townson, who completed his hat trick courtesy of a poor attempted back pass by Mossley defender Peter Band, who played the ball straight into the strikers path, with Townson shooting home into the roof of the net. After going three goals down, Mossley made a double substitution to get back into the game, and had their best spell of play in the game, substitute Steve Halford being played through the Town rearguard, only to shoot past the upright, before they finally managed to finally beat Robertson, winger Ben Richardson being given space out wide to slam home beyond Robertson and into the net.
This was the blow that once again forced Town to start playing again, and with thirteen minutes left extended their lead, with a goal of the season contender by full back Peter Doran, (pictured right) the full back half picking up the bouncing loose ball 35 yards out, before bendind a wicked angled curling effort beyond Gotham and into the top corner.
Two minutes later and Town made it five, Townson seeing his powerful drive slip embarrassingly under the body of Gotham and into the net. By now Town were rampant, and soon made it six, Phil Mooney being played through, and slotted home past the on-rushing Gotham to extend Town’s lead.
With only a minute of the ninety left, Town made it seven for the second time this season, when Miles produced a fine curling free kick that gave Gotham no chance and to send Town in to the next round of their final cup of the season.
The goal scorers – Mooney, Townson, Miles and Doran
Town: Robertson, Davies, Doran, Parle, Flynn (c), McCarten (Reid, 12) (Ruane, 19), Collins, Mooney, Townson, Miles, Gratton (Jack West, 74, Debut)
