WARRINGTON Town set up a trip to Colwyn Bay in the next round of the FA Cup after seeing off Sheffield 3-1 in their second qualifying round replay.
After a stalemate at Cantilever Park on Saturday, Warrington got off to a flying start and were 2-0 up within 15 minutes and were good value for the win, despite requiring a late Steve Foster goal to ease the tension towards the end.
Kick-off was delayed by 20 minutes due to floodlight failure, and when the lights did come on, Town took the lead inside six minutes.
Winger Scott Metcalfe, controversially sent off in Saturday’s encounter, was a menace to the Sheffield defence all evening, and he got in behind down the left, before putting across a perfect low cross to create a tap in for Foster inside the six yard box.
The lead could have been doubled minutes later after Metcalfe’s deflected shot forced a corner, the subsequent delivery finding James McCarten at the back post, but his header was comfortably saved.
In an opening 10 minutes, Sheffield also came close to scoring, when Joel Purkiss’ opportunist shot hit the face of Karl Wills’ left hand post.
Clinical Town made it two on 15 minutes from the penalty spot. Metcalfe, clearly determined to make up for lost time, once again got in behind, and as he chased down Louis Corrigan’s through ball, was hauled back by his marker and the referee’s assistant flagged for a penalty.
Metcalfe stepped up and put the penalty away to the goalkeeper’s left for 2-0.
Ben Wharton carved out a chance for himself 10 minutes later, curling the ball just over the bar, and he was then denied by a last ditch tackle.
At the other end, Wills failed to deal with a free kick and with the ‘keeper out of his goal, it was left for McCarten to head a shot off the line.
There was time for another Wharton chance on the stroke of half time, the striker hitting a half volley just wide of the post, meaning Town had to settle for a 2-0 half-time advantage.
Town sought to finish the tie off early in the second half. The excellent Tom Hardwick carried the ball out of defence and found Foster, who dragged a shot wide. Foster then came close when a loose ball fell to him inside the box, but he was hesitant and that enabled the goalkeeper to narrow the angle and the chance was gone.
As time passed, it seemed that Town had done enough to secure victory, until a goal on 66 minutes brought the tie back to life.
Midfielder James Knowles cracked a half volley from inside the box and found the back of the net, despite the best efforts of Wills in goal.
That set up a nervy final quarter for Town, and they were fortunate to still be leading on 69 minutes when a slightly deflected shot hit the inside of the post and went all the way across the goal line and out for a corner.
Town’s back three of Hardwick, McCarten and Craig Robinson had their work cut out, and the away supporters will have been somewhat relieved when Town added a third goal on 81.
Metcalfe tidied up at the back and then launched a long ball towards Foster, who gathered it well, took on his man and then curled a low right-footed shot in to the far corner, to the delight of the bench and his team-mates.
It was the final nail in Sheffield’s coffin, and sent Town through to a third qualifying round trip to North Wales.
Picture shows Steve Foster celebrating the opening goal – his first for the club.
Sheffield: Green, Hadfield, Algar, Knowles, Cardwell (Ludlum), Whittaker, Roney (Smith), Stirrup, Longstaff, Purkiss, Gregory. Unused subs: Simpson, Kay, Hargreaves, Pemberton.
Warrington: Wills, Davies, Hardwick, Mannix, McCarten, Robinson, Corrigan, Roberts, Wharton, Foster (Collins), Metcalfe. Unused subs: Doughty, Gahgan.
