Town earn creditable draw

Warrington Town 3 Marine 3
TOWN entertained a strong Evo Stik premier side Marine, and earned a very creditable draw in a valuable pre-season friendly.
They welcomed back former Everton and Republic of Ireland midfielder Gareth Farrell and handed a debut to recent signing Chris Pilkington in midfield.
Both sides started the game slowly, looking to test each other out early on. The first chance fell to Marine striker Jamie Rainford, who seized on a poor back pass, but sliced his shot well wide of the Town goal.
The visitors had the best of the early chances, with midfielder Stephen Johnson shooting narrowly wide. Town began to get into the game, their first chance falling to striker Gavin Salmon, who was denied by ex Town keeper Ryan McMahon, the follow up being blasted over by Chris Gahgan. The visitors took the lead in the 27th minute, when midfielder Stephen Hussey unleashed a thunderbolt into the top corner, leaving Town keeper Paul Pritchard statuesque.
Town levelled the game, before half time when Tony Evans saw his shot saved but Salmon slotted home the rebound. Within two minutes Town were ahead, when Gahgan blasted home from a tight angle after being put through on goal. Town almost went further ahead on the stroke of half time, defender Tom Hardwick seeing his header being cleared off the line.
Within 25 seconds of the restart, Marine had equalised, Jonathon Goulding being allowed time and space to slot home beyond Pritchard.
Incredibly, within two minutes, Town were back ahead, when debutant Rowntree was allowed time and space in the box to slot home. Full back Mike Duffy was next to go close, when he saw his effort well saved by McMahon.
Shortly afterwards, Marine were awarded a penalty, but Pritchard dove well to his left to save. The game became very open, as both sides introduced a number of substitutes, Despite Town having the best of the chances, they could not find a fourth goal to kill the game and it was Marines Phil Brazier who seized on a mistake to slot home into an open goal.
Town: Pritchard, Duffy, Corrigan, T Hardwick, Tomlinson (c), Farrelly, Hickey, Chris Rowntree (D), Evans, Salmon, Gahgan. Subs used: Bathurst, Finley, Kennedy, Potter, Rutter, R Hardwick