Well earned point for Town at Salford

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THE crossbar denied Scott Metcalfe (pictured top) a hat-trick and Warrington Town a victory as they were held 2-2 at Salford City..
Town showed their credentials, despite their lowly league position, with an impressive performance and were unfortunate not to come away with the three points, after initially coming from a goal down to lead.
New strikers Lee Gaskell and Stephen Tames, who was particularly impressive, led from the front but it was top scorer Metcalfe who scored both goals, with all four goals coming in the first half.
Salford took the lead on nine minutes thanks to a deadly counter attack off the back of a Town corner. Tricky winger Sam Madeley turned Matt Doughty and Lewis Field inside out before finishing well past Karl Wills to give Salford, owned by the famous Manchester United Class of 92, the opening goal.
Despite the early setback, Warrington stuck to their game plan, and started to create chances.
A direct run from Tames had Salford on the back foot, and he released Metcalfe, who had his right foot shot saved at the near post by Sam Guthrie.
Signs of promise turned in to a result for the visitors on 31 minutes. Tames raced away down the left, before going down in a hefty challenge with Guthrie and a defender, before the loose ball found its way to Metcalfe, who drilled home a left footed strike from the edge of the box.
The same two Town attackers linked up again minutes later, with Tames releasing Metcalfe once more, forcing a blocked save from the keeper, with Gaskell poking the rebound wide.
Playing with increased confidence, Town’s midfield started to press high up the pitch, and Salford squandered possession thanks to Nathan Burke’s tackle, putting Metcalfe in a two-on-one situation, though he blazed his shot over the bar.
The deserved second goal for Town did come on 43 minutes, when Metcalfe beat the offside trap to race on to David Mannix’s through ball, and he lashed a left-footed strike in to the far corner.
But their lead lasted all of two minutes. Tentative defending near the touchline allowed Salford in behind, and Jason Rother coolly stood up the ‘keeper, passing it square for Martyn Andrews to fire in to the empty net.
After that breathless first half, it was always going to be difficult to maintain that pace after the break, as the rain continued to pour.
Salford had the first chance of the second half, their stand-out player Madeley doing everything but score from the left flank.
Striker Gareth Seddon squandered two almost identical chances as he was twice left free at the back post from left wing free-kicks, before Town had the best two chances to secure a winner.
Substitute Conor Roberts linked with Tames to find Burke in the box, and he rounded the goalkeeper only to see his goal bound shot somehow cleared off the line by a defender’s chest.
Then Metcalfe pounced on a defensive error, flicking the ball over the defender before crashing his shot against the crossbar to the despair of the travelling fans.
That was to be the last and best chance of the half for Town, and they were forced to settle for a point, only their fifth away from home this season.

Metcalfe strikes with a sweet left foot.


Metcalfe turns away after celebrating his goal


Impressive debut for Tames who splits the Salford defence.

Salford: Guthrie, Edgehill, Neville, Andrews, Lynch, Walters, Dunn, Rother (Platt), Webber, Seddon, Madeley (Kirby). Unused subs: Coo, Moss, Jarrett.
Warrington: Wills, Field, Hardwick, Mannix, McCarten, Robinson, Doughty, Burke, Tames (Foster), Gaskell (Roberts), Metcalfe (Ruane). Unused subs: Davies, Corrigan.


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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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