A last gasp goal from striker Tony Evans secured a valuable 2-1 victory over local rivals Leigh Genesis as Warrington Town maintained their unbeaten start to the season.
Warrington made two changes to the starting line up from Saturday’s FA Cup victory at Parkgate, with Connor Millington and Chris Rowntree replacing Levi Kennedy and Gareth Farrelly in midfield.
The game started slowly, with both sides looking to test the other out initially, leading to a lack of chances for both sides early on. The first real chance of the game, came just before the quarter hour, when full back Louis Corrigan, saw his free kick parried by Leigh keeper Adam Judge. Just under a minute later, striker Gavin Salmon went close, seeing his shot on the spin, saved low at his near post by Judge.
Town started to take charge of the game and the chances started to flow. Tony Evans was next to go close, seeing his lob from an acute angle beat Judge but fall narrowly the wrong side of the crossbar, with Salmon going close once again soon after. The one real moment of class of the first half saw Town take the lead, Salmon collecting a pass from Gahgan on the edge of the box, taking a touch, before bending the ball beyond the on rushing defenders and past Judge into the corner of the net.
Leigh went close for the first time shortly afterwards, Paul Pritchard saving Joe Evans curling free kick, and striker John Lawless seeing his effort saved by Pritchard shortly afterwards. Town could have gone further ahead shortly before half time, Tony Evans meeting a flicked on corner at the far post but seeing his effort fly over the bar from close range.
The second half was a more lively affair, with both sides looking for goals, Rick Gleave going close for the visitors, seeing his header go straight at Pritchard, and team mate Andy Heald shooting over shortly afterwards. Leigh had now taken control of the game and began to have the better of the chances, midfielder Joe Evans seeing his driven shot go narrowly over the bar and substitute Scott Sephton shooting over when well placed. At the other end, full back Mike Duffy shot across the face of the visitors goal.
With eight minutes to go, Leigh should have equalised, when Gleave shot well wide when through on Pritchard’s goal. With five minutes left, Leigh found an equaliser that their play deserved, when central defender cum striker Kieran Molyneaux getting a toe to a cross from close range to find the net, despite the best efforts of Pritchard who got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out. The visitors went close to getting a winner soon after, Gleave seeing his effort tipped onto the post by Pritchard. Just as it looked like the game was going to end in a draw, Town managed to find a winner, Tony Evans latching onto a throughball to find the bottom corner three minutes into injury time, and to secure the three points.
Pictures show Skipper Mike Tomlinson celebrating with goal scorers Gavin Salmon and Tony Evans and Evans slotting away his last gasp winner.
For more pictures from the game CLICK HERE
Town: Pritchard, Duffy, Corrigan, T Hardwick, Tomlinson (c), Rowntree (Potter, 61), Hickey, Millington (R Hardwick, 84), Evans, Salmon (Rutter, 82), Gahgan, subs not used: Bathurst, Anderson
Last gasp win for Town
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
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.
