WARRINGTON Town bounced back from their disappointing midweek cup defeat with a hard earned 1-1 draw at Wakefield on Saturday.
Manager Joey Dunn fielded exactly the same starting eleven that lost 7-1 in the Presidents Cup at AFC Fylde earlier in the week, giving the players a chance to respond. 
This time it was Warrington who made the flying start, but were twice caught offside early on. Wakefield’s first chance fell to midfielder Adam Jones, who blasted over from distance, with Town winger Chris Gahgan (pictured right) shooting straight at Wakefield’s former Man City keeper, Ashley Timms. Both sides could have gone ahead soon after, firstly midfielder Elliott Firth was denied well by Town keeper Paul Pritchard, before Anthony Hickey saw his square ball smuggled away before the on rushing Town attackers could reach the ball. Town were in control of the game, with Tony Evans forcing a fine flying save out of Timms, who palmed his shot from the edge of the box, behind.
Evans could have have also put Town ahead soon after, latching onto strike partner Gavin Salmon’s weighted throughball but saw his shot go straight at Timms at his near post. Two minutes before half time and against the run of play the home side took the lead, giant striker Tom Denton glancing home a cross from the right, referee Mr Grunnill missing an obvious foul on Mike Duffy by the home side in the build up.
The second half saw Town taking the play to their hosts, looking for an equalising goal that their play deserved and they appeared to have a very good shout for a penalty rejected by Mr Grunnill, before right back Duffy stung Timms’ palms with a well struck shot from 10 yards. The home side still looked dangerous on occasions, with winger Lawrence Hunter shooting across the face of Pritchard’s goal when well placed, before Denton almost extended the home sides lead, his lob barely being palmed away by a back pedalling Pritchard. The home sides best spell of the match continued with striker Danny South heading wide soon after. The introduction of substitute Sam Finely gave Town an extra impetus, and indeed it was his pass, that set up last season’s top scorer Chris Gahgan to slot home past a statuesque Timms and into the bottom corner. Town were once again pressing forward looking for a goal, Tony Evans rounding Timms, before seeing his shot blocked by sliding defender Brandon Kane.
Anthony Hickey was close to heading home Louis Corrigan’s teasing free kick soon after. The home side almost grabbed a barely deserved with six minutes left, stiker
South capitalising on hesitancy in the Town rearguard to round Pritchard, only to be denied by defender Mike Duffy tracking back and taking the ball. Just a minute later, Town could have got a winner, young substitute Finley snatching at a loose ball and shooting straight at Timms. The last chance of the game fell to Denton, who was denied by an excellent last gasp challenge by Town captain Mike Tomlinson, when through on goal.
Town: Pritchard, Duffy, Corrigan, T Hardwick, Tomlinson (c), Wade (Millington, 82), Hickey, R Hardwick (Finley, 65), Evans, Salmon (Collins, 76), Gahgan, Subs not used: Potter, Jukes
