Evans' hat-trick sinks City

WARRINGTON Town produced, arguably, their best performance for many years to stun last year’s beaten play off finalists Lancaster City 4-0, and to move up to 4th in the table, thanks to a fantastic hat trick from striker Tony Evans and a comprehensive all round team performance.
Town welcomed back last season’s top scorer Chris Gahgan and veteran midfielder Gareth Farrelly into the starting line up. Town began the game brightest, with Salmon shooting straight at City keeper Martin Feron early on, however, the home side were still in the game and forced Town keeper Paul Pritchard into an early save at his near post.
The game changed in two minutes before the quarter hour, Pritchard denying striker Josh Kenworthy when through on goal, only for Town to take the lead less than a minute later, when Tony Evans (pictured right) was on hand to finish from six yards as Salmon’s powerful angled drive was parried by Fearon into the path of the on rushing striker.
Town could have gone further ahead soon after when Gahgan was on the end of a fine team move, only to see Fearon save his effort at the near post.
Once again Pritchard was called into action, to deny Paul Jarvis after rare hesitancy in the Town defence.
In a very open game, Evans saw his shot go too close to Fearon and City midfielder Adam Farrell lobbed over Town’s crossbar. Town were playing the better football of the two teams, with midfielder Anthony Hickey narrowly volleying over Mike Duffy’s cross. The last chance of the half fell to City’s Max Rothwell, who shot over the cross bar when well placed.
Town controlled the game from the start of the second half, going close early on, before scoring a second goal, Evans latching onto a fine Gahgan throughball to slot home beyond the advancing Fearon from the edge of the box. Evans was looking for his hat trick and went close soon after, forcing Fearon into a fine low save.
City’s Kenworthy headed over when well placed before Jarvis cut in from the wing but saw his shot go wide of the target. City got a lifeline on 65 minutes when Mike Tomlinson was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area, City midfielder Farrell seeing his low penalty well saved by former Welsh youth international Pritchard.
Two minutes later, Town were denied an obvious penalty, when Salmon was brought down in the area after turning defender Andrew Teague. With Town in total control of the game, full back Mike Duffy was next to go close, his marauding run and shot forcing Fearon to save well with his feet. It was no surprise when Town scored the game killing third goal with a quarter of an hour left, Salmon latching onto Farrelly’s throughball to round Fearon and shoot home from the angle. There was only one side in the game at this point, and Fearon was forced to tip over Evans fierce drive soon after. Evans completed his well deserved hat trick in the eighty seventh minute, when his low shot through a packed penalty area deceived Fearon and found the back of the net. Town went close to a fifth goal soon after, when veteran midfielder Farrelly latched onto a fine team move, only to see his chip over the goalkeeper rebound off the post and away to safety, depite the efforts of the on rushing substitute John Bathurst.
Pritchard comfortably dealt with City’s late weak effort as Town cruised to a well deserved three points.
After the match a delighted manager Joey Dunn praised his team for their superb all round performance and made special mention of Town’s travelling barmy army.
“Our supporters may have been out numbered but they silenced the home crowd. The team really appreciate their support.”

Town: Pritchard, Duffy (Potter, 90), Corrigan, T Hardwick, Tomlinson (c), Kennedy (Millington, 71), Hickey, Farrelly, Evans, Salmon (Bathurst, 86), Gahgan subs not used: R Hardwick, Rutter