Killer goal lifts Wire

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A late goal from new signing Ciaran Kilheeney (pictured above) helped secure all three

points for Warrington Town with a 1-0 victory over Radcliffe Borough, lifting them to sixth in the table.
Town manager Shaun Reid giving a debut to winger and former Warrington fans’ favourite Jimmy McCarthy, (pictured right) who has re-signed for the club on loan from Evostik Premier Division side AFC Fylde, in place of Kevin Townson, who dropped to the bench.
Warrington, who unusually, wore their all blue away kit, had the better of the opening exchanges, Kilheeney shooting into the side netting early on, before left back Phil Doran saw his drive from the edge of the box just bend narrowly wide of the upright, with Radcliffe’s ex Town keeper James Coates, scrambling across his goal.
After these early chances, the game became one of attrition, played in driving rain, with few chances created by either side, full back Phil Davies saw his shot from the edge of the penalty area, saved comfortably by Coates.
The closest the visitors came to opening the scoring was when midfielder Jamie Baguley saw his angled free kick go across the face of the Town goal, with none of his colleagues able to apply a final touch. Town had a great chance to open the scoring just before half time, when Ash Ruane, got on the end of a fine cross, only to see his header flash across the face of the Radcliffe goal and behind for a goal kick.
The second half was a much more open affair, with both sides having good opportunities to open the scoring, the first of these falling to Radcliffe striker Ben Wharton, who shot wide of the target when through on Andy Robertson in the Town goal.
As the game wore on, Town pressed forward looking to open the scoring, with McCarthy and Kilheeney, both looking dangerous in the final third of the field. It was McCarthy who went close just after the hour, having been played through, his final touch was too heavy and allowed Coates to make a save at close range, before midfielder John Miles, saw his curling effort go narrowly over the crossbar.
The visitors, were not totally out of the game, and possibly could have taken the lead on 70 minutes, Wharton shooting narrowly wide of the upright from the edge of the box, following good work by strike partner Odilon Koubemba. After this scare, Town once again took the game to their visitors, with Coates reacting first to a Phil Doran cross to reach the ball, before a touch could be applied by Kilheeney.
From another counter attack, the visitors almost snatched an unlikely lead, Koubemba meeting a cross by midfielder Griff Jones, and saw his powerful shot partially saved by Robertson, with defender Adam Mitter being in the right place to clear the loose ball from the mud in the goalmouth.
Town continued to push forward looking for an opening goal, but no matter what they tried, it appeared it wasn’t going to be their night, defender Adam Flynn seeing his shot blocked by Boro defence before midfielder Lee Parle saw his free header sail harmlessly over the Boro bar from close range.
Once again, it was Kilheeney who went close soon after, his shot on the turn going straight at Coates, who saved with his legs. With three minutes to go, Boro had their best chance of the match to open the scoring, Wharton being played through, only to scoop his shot over the bar, with only Robertson to beat.
With two minutes to go, Town got the goal that their play deserved, Kilheeney drifting off his marker to find a yard of space in the penalty area, and his powerful shot was too hot for Coates to handle and found its way into the back of the net, via the underside of the keepers body.
The victory saw the Wire climb to sixth in the league table.
Prior to kick off Warrington Town manager Shaun Reid and Operations Director Toby Macormac were presented with the First Division North Jungledrum Fair Play award for November by David Lunn of Jungledrum and the League’s Respect Manager Phil Bradley.


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Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

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