Wire complete league double

WARRINGTON Town kept their slim play off hopes alive with a 4-1 victory over fellow play-off chasers New Mills to complete a league double over the Derbyshire based outfit.
It was arguably Warrington’s best performance since their trip to New Mills last August when they ran out 6-1 winners.
Town manager Shaun Reid re-introduced Lee Parle and Phil Mooney (pictured right) into the starting line up in place of Phil Davies and John Newby, who dropped to the substitutes bench.
Both teams started the game quickly, looking to get on the front foot and take the lead. New Mills midfielder Carlos Meakin headed over early on before Warrington’s Ciaran Kilheeney saw his weak lob saved by New Mills keeper David Stephenson. It was Kilheeney (pictured top) who was first to go close for Town, reaching a throughball beyond Stephenson, only to see his lob well cleared by New Mills midfielder Luke Horrocks. After this scare, the visitors took control of the game, firstly striker Chris Luby saw his shot cleared off the line by Town defender James McCarten before his colleague Daniel Douglas-Pringle saw his follow up blocked by Town winger Andy Fowler, Town cleared two more shots off the line soon afterwards as the visitors piled on the pressure.
As so often happens, having soaked up so much pressure, Town hit New Mills with a sucker punch, taking the lead with a rare chance, Ash Ruane picking up a knock down from Kilheeney before advancing and planting a fierce low drive past Stephenson and into the far corner of the net. After gaining the lead, Town grew in confidence and eight minutes later went further ahead, a ball into the box aimed for Kilheeney was scrambled away but only as far as Mooney, who swept home, despite being on the ground at time of contact with the ball.
At two goals up, Town looked in complete control, Kilheeney seeing his goalbound effort blocked by Mills centre half Mike Bowler before Ruane saw his fiercely hit shot well saved low to his right by Stephenson.
Town started the second half, as they had finished the first, in complete control of proceedings, winger Andy Fowler being played through wide out, only to shoot too close to Stephenson. On a rare attack, New Mills forced a fine save from Town keeper Andy Robertson, after the Town players had stopped as the assistant referee had raised his flag for offside, but referee Mr Mycock waved play on.
Just on the hour, Town went close to extending their lead, Mooney being played through on goal, only to be forced wide when rounding Robertson, meaning his resultant angled shot was blocked behind for a corner. Kilheeney saw his cheeky lob fly high over the bar, but soon after, the visitors went close to opening their account, defender Sam Egerton heading over when well placed in the penalty area, before Meakin once again went close, slicing his shot high and wide when well placed and bearing down on goal.
With 15 minutres left, Town made the game safe and extended their lead, a ball into the box towards Mooney was intercepted by full back David Fitzpatrick, only for the loose ball to fall into the path of substitute John Newby, who scored his first goal for the club, volleying home from six yards. Two minutes later, and Town extended their lead to four goals, Kilheeney being played through before rounding Stephenson and slotting home despite a defender being on the line.
The last significant action of the game, saw a poor back pass from Town captain Peter Dogan latched onto by Luby, only to be brought down by Robertson as he attmepted to round Town’s rearguard. Mr Mycock producing a red card, and with all three subs used, full back Nat Kerr went between the sticks, however, he was unable to keep out Fitzpatrick’s penalty, as New Mills finished the scoring.

The goal scorers (l-R) Kilheeney, Newby, Ruane and Mooney.

Town: Robertson, Kerr, Doran, Mannix (West, 78), McCarten, Dogan (c), Ruane (Miles, 78), Parle, Kilheeney, Mooney, Fowler(Newby, 67), sub not used: Coulter