WARRINGTON Town’s highly successful youth team created history by reaching the first round proper of the FA Youth Cup for the first time following a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mickleover Sports.
Town almost paid the price for wayward first-half finishing but they never let their heads drop. A succession of chances went begging as Callum Wallace and Joe Rhodes did their utmost to open the scoring and put a finishing touch to the rampant wing play from Rhys Coogan and Danny Bruce, but it was not to be.
The visitors had a couple of their own chances but never really troubled Nathan Butler in the home goal. The sides went into the break at all square.
Mickleover settled into the second half a bit earlier than the Yellows and in the 65th minute were awarded a contentious penalty following a long delay due to an injury to Ryan Henshaw. Luke Gratton stepped up to open the scoring for the away side.
Town did not change their approach and kept looking for a way through. In the 78th minute Danny Bruce cut in from the left and teed himself up for what can only be described as a screamer into the top corner past the impressive Joshwa O’Brien in the Mickleover goal to equalise.
Substitute Brad Parker joined the fray in the 85th minute replacing the hard-working Callum Wallace. Just three minutes later he latched on to a through ball and calmly shot across the keeper to win an enthralling cup-tie and put Town into the first round proper for the first time.
Warrington will now host Rochdale FC at the HG Driver Recruitment Stadium on Wednesday November 6.
TEAM: Butler, Andy Williams, Chambers, Turner, Cunliffe, Geden, Bruce, Bibby, Rhodes, Wallace (Parker 85′), Coogan. Not used: Ford, Hadley, Collins, Bluff.
