UNBEATEN Warrington Town will lock horns with Bamber Bidge for the third time in a week tomorrow night after drawing 1-1 in the F.A Cup 2nd qualifying round on Saturday.
Town will be hoping home advantage will see them through after drawing 1-1 in the league and cup away from home.
On Saturday Town were deprived of the services of former Republic of Ireland international midfielder Gareth Farrelly, through injury and of full back Mike Duffy, with Andy Potter and Rob Hardwick coming into the starting eleven as replacements. Both sides started with a hangover after Tuesday’s league encounter, with the first chance not coming until the 11th minute, when winger Alastair Waddecar found himself through on goal, but saw his low shot well save by Paul Pritchard in Town’s goal.
Bamber Bridge midfielder Ashley Dunn was next to go close, driving narrowly wide from the edge of the box. Town’s best early chance fell to Rob Hardwick, who saw his shot spilled but well recovered by Bridge’s keeper Ben Hinchliffe, before the on rushing Town players could gather the ball. The home side went close to taking the lead in the 27th minute, when Tom Hardwick cleared a cross over his own crossbar. Town were indebted to Pritchard for keeping them level, with a fine save from a powerful Chris Thompson drive. Hardwick went close shortly afterwards as the half fizzled out in terms of chances, with both defences being in charge of proceedings.
The second half began in a far more lively manner, after a team talk from both managers, and eight minutes into the half, Town took the lead, Tony Evans getting on the end of a quick counter attack by Town and seeing his shot on the spin, beat Hinchliffe, and find the back of the net, despite the effort of the retreating Bamber Bridge defenders. The home side, with the introduction of former Town striker Kevin Towey from the substitutes bench, began to have their best spell of pressure on the Town goal, with defender Luke Atherton going closest for the home side, but his header was well dealt with by Pritchard. Town should have sewn the game up on 70 minutes, when striker Gavin Salmon was denied by a fine low save from Hinchliffe when through on goal, with Tony Evans also hitting the rebound straight at the Bridge goalkeeper.
The home side continued to press forward looking for an equaliser, and were denied by an excellent last gasp challenge by Potter, as striker Thompson was about to shoot on goal. The introduction of various substitutes saw Town defend deep and the home side taking control of the game, and it was no surprise when the home side equalised, Town allowing the ball to bounce in the area and find Thompson unmarked in the six yard box, who looped a header beyond Pritchard and into the corner of the net. Soon after Pritchard produced another save to keep the scores level. With the game heading towards a draw and a replay at Cantilever Park, Town went close to snatching the game deep in injury time when a scramble in the Bamber Bridge saw Skipper Mike Tomlinson back heel against the post, with the ball bouncing clear, meaning both sides had to settle for a draw and a replay, and seeing their names in the hat for the third qualifying draw.
Pictures show (top) Goal scorer Tony Evans, Striker Gavin Salmon going close and Mike Tomlinson hitting the post with his ambitious back heel effort deep in injury time.
For more pictures from the game CLICK HERE
Town: Pritchard, Potter, Corrigan, T Hardwick, Tomlinson (c), Kennedy, Hickey (Rutter, 81), R Hardwick, Evans, Salmon, Gahgan (Ness, 90), subs not used: Bathurst, Anderson, Millington.
