WARRINGTON Town crashed to their first home league defeat of the season as they went down 0-2 to fellow play-off contenders Clitheroe.
The defeat took the gloss off the signing of Warrington based striker Chris Thompson from Bamber Bridge, who made his debut from the bench.
A determined Clitheroe turned up at Cantilever Park in an unusual pink and black change kit, which raised some eyebrows amongst the home fans assembled at the game.
Both sides started the game cautiously, with the first chance of the game falling to Town’s diminutive winger Chris Gahgan, who shot wide of the target. Shortly afterwards, winger Anthony Hickey, just failed to latch onto a throughball as Town enjoyed the better of the early play, without ever really threatening. The visitors first chance coming after 20 minutes, winger Danny Williamson shooting over when well placed. Town could have taken the lead mid way through the half, Clitheroe keeper Danny McDonald making a hash of a clearance, with the ball
falling to Town’s top scorer Tony Evans, who advanced on goal, and saw his effort cleared by the retreating defence. Less than sixty seconds later, striker Gavin Salmon saw his shot go high and wide when well placed. Clitheroe were also creating some chances, with striker Mark Jackson, heading straight at Paul Pritchard in the Town goal.
Town did have the ball in the net in the 36th minute, when Salmon volleyed home after a good team move, only to see his effort ruled out for offside. Just when it looked like the first half was going to end goalless, the visitors popped up and found a way through Town’s defences, Jackson seeing his low effort through a crowd of legs, defeat an unsighted Pritchard, who got a hand to the ball, but could not prevent it going in. Within a minute the visitors were two goals up, Tom Hardwick slicing his header which looped past Pritchard and high into the net. With no time to respond, Town found themselves going in two goals behind.
Town once again had more of the game early on in the second half, going close through Sam Finley six minutes into the half, Finley saw his effort blocked, before smashing the rebound narrowly over the crossbar. Town were indebted to Pritchard on the hour, for producing a fine double save to deny Clitheroe striker Tom Williams, the second of which was an excellent flying save. Town’s returning top scorer Tony Evans twice went close soon after, seeing his shot deflected narrowly wide, before shooting too close to McDonald. Clitheroe had a late chance to sew the three points up but defender James Heywood produced a full backs finish, to blast over when well placed. To compound the bad day for Town, Tom Hardwick was shown a straight red card in injury time, for something he said to referee Mr Thorley. Deep into injury time,
Town substitute Connor Millington forced a fine low save from McDonald, as the visitors became only the second team this season to stop Town from scoring.
Pictures (from top) Town striker Tony Evans shoots, Gavin Salmon jumps for the ball and Town’s new signing Chris Thompson.
Town: Pritchard, Duffy, Corrigan, T. Hardwick, Tomlinson (c), Wade (Millington, 80), Hickey (Chris Thompson (d), 63), Finley, Evans, Salmon (Collins, 63), Gahgan, subs not used: R. Hardwick, Jukes
