Town back on top despite draw

WARRINGTON Town reclaimed top spot in the league despite dropping two points in a home draw against Bamber Bridge.
David Mannix’s penalty following a handball on the line had put Town in front shortly before half time, but they were second best for large parts after the break and were eventually punished.
But a draw still means 12 league games unbeaten for Town, and a return to the top Evostik Division One North on goal difference.
It was the second meeting of the two sides this season, with Warrington coming away 3-0 victors in the reverse fixture.
Missing captain Craig Robinson, Peter Dogan and Scott Metcalfe, all through suspension, Town struggled to find an early rhythm in the wet conditions.
Liam Dawson almost created a one-on-one opportunity with a smart turn while controlling the ball on the edge of the box, but was then brought down. From the resulting free-kick, James McCarten, who had scored from free-kicks in each of the last two outings, drilled the ball in to the wall. The referee ruled it had encroached, however, and a retake saw Dawson lose his footing and fire wide.
Chances were few and far between in the first half, and the best chance fell to John McKenna, starting at centre back, when he headed David Mannix’s free-kick goalwards, only to be denied by Steven James in the Bamber Bridge goal.
The main talking point of the match came from a Dawson corner, minutes before half time. The ball was whipped in to the box, and after a scramble, a shot seemed to come off a defender’s arm. The referee seemed hesitant, but the linesman on the far side flagged and a penalty was given.
Despite the infringement, no card was issued, although the offender Matt Lawler did receive a yellow card once Mannix had converted from 12 yards for his protests.
Brig could have been level at the break, when Alistair Waddecar’s shot come cross whipped past the far post, just beyond the outstretched leg of Tom Williams.
For most of the second half, the visitors were in the ascendancy. They controlled the ball and territory better, and Town were restricted to sporadic counter attacks for large parts.
On one occasion, Chris Gahgan got away down the left and a dangerous low ball was cleared.
The warning signs were there for Shaun Reid’s men, none more so than when Jamie Hastings cracked the bar with a long range effort.
You felt Town needed a second goal, and they should have got one when a surging run by Mannix ended in a low cross that broke to Carlos Meakin, but he snatched at the chance and ballooned his effort over the bar from 10 yards out.
And it was to become a nightmare evening for Meakin just moments later. Waddecar’s corner was swung in and found its way in to the back of the net off Meakin for 1-1 on 72 minutes.
As the rain continued to poor, and the pitch got heavier and heavier, Brig continued to look the more likely.
As it was, neither side could find an opening and were forced to settle for a point each.
Warrington: Cook, Davies, Thompson, Meakin, McCarten, McKenna, Gahgan (Kilheeney), Mannix, Bowen, Wharton (Newby), Dawson (Mooney).
Bamber Bridge: James, Mahoney, Hastings, Lawler, Alexander, Kay, Williams, Thompson, Bell, Waddecar, Marlow.