WARRINGTON Town lost a thrilling Liverpool Senior Cup clash with Skelmersdale last night on penalties as the game finished 2-2 after extra time.
Both sides started the tie showing many changes from the weekend, using it as a chance to play some of the fringe players and youngsters.
Town’s Tom Rutter had the first chance of the game early on, seeing his shot on the spin being deflected for a corner. It was the visitors who opened the scoring in the 6th minute, with their very first attack of the game, midfielder Phil Mooney picking up a loose ball in the area to blast home beyond Town’s teenage debutant keeper Dan Gordon, who was in for the suspended Paul Pritchard. Town continued to have the better of the game as they went searching for an equaliser, with Tom Hardwick blasting wide. Town should have equalised in the 21st minute but Tom Rutter saw his shot go wide of the far post when well placed. Town got the equaliser they deserved in the 25th minute, when Sam Finley saw his penalty well saved by former Town Stopper Andy Paxton, only for Allan Collins to square to the diminutive midfielder who this time slotted home. Once again Town continued to control the game and have the best of the chances, everyone missing an excellent Mike Duffy centre, before Rutter saw his long range effort well tipped over by Paxton. The last chance of the half fell to young striker John Bathurst, who saw his shot well saved by Paxton with his feet.
The visitors came out fired up and began to take the game to Town, after obviously receiving a piece of former Town manager Tommy Lawson’s mind during the interval.
Striker Kevin Kynaston, hooking his effort wide when well placed, before rattling the upright with a fierce low drive, which left Gordon with no chance and seeing his next effort cleared off the line. Skelmersdale got the goal they deserved on 53 minutes, centre half Ross Lloyd heading home off the underside of the bar and post, which was given despite the protestations that the ball had not crossed the line, from the Town players. Town soon began to press forward and to have the best of the game once again, Tom Hardwick seeing his shot across the face deflected for a corner and Rutter heading straight at Paxton soon after. Town were soon indebted to young keeper Gordon for keeping them in the game, with the youngster producing a fine save to deny the visitors a third goal form a deflected effort. Connor Millington was to go close for Town, twice in a minute, first seeing his curling effort well saved by Paxton, before seeing his looping header fall agonisingly wide of the post. With Town in control of the game, Skelmersdale almost scored on the break only for Gordon to rob Kynaston outside of the area. Bathurst saw his header go narrowly wide of
the upright as Town searched for the equaliser they thoroughly deserved. Substitute Rob Hardwick saw his effort blocked on the line by left back Ian Latham soon after.
Once again Gordon kept Town in the game, when denying the visitors, only for Town to go upfield and Rutter to see his cross tipped onto the post by Paxton at full stretch.
Town found an equaliser with virtually the last kick of the 90 minutes, young substitute Connor Anderson getting on the end of a Paxton fumble to slam home his first senior goal for the club, after coming through the youth system.
The first period was again end to end stuff, as play swung one way then the other Kynaston shooting weakly wide when through on goal and Anderson seeing his back header go narrowly wide of the goal. The second period was spent with Town on the attack, and they should have sewn the game up late on when Gahgan cut in from the left, before seeing his shot well saved by Paxton. Just as the game looked to be heading for penalties, Town had a glorious chance to win the game, on loan striker Alan Collins found himself free on the edge of the box, but dragged his shot agonisingly past the upright and the game headed for penalty kicks.
This was the only time in the game that the visitors were in total control, as firstly Gahgan, then Rob Hardwick, and finally Andy Potter all saw their efforts well saved by Paxton, Skelmersdale coolly converting all three of their kicks, to earn a place in the next round.
Pictures show Town’s 17-year-old keeper Dan Gordon who had an impressive debut, on-loan striker Allan Collins jumping for the ball and one of Warrington’s penalty misses.
Town: Dan Gordon (d), Potter, T Hardwick (c), Duffy, Ness, Finley, Millington (Anderson, 82), Rowntree (R Hardwick, 72), Bathurst (Gahgan, 82), Collins, Rutter, subs not used: Hickey, Wade
