Town topple high flying Chorley

WARRINGTON Town toppled high flying Chorley 1-0 at Cantilever Park last night thanks to a goal two minutes from time from new signing Chris Thompson.
In a thrilling encounter both sides looked to get forward and put pressure on their opponents, Chorley defender Nick Meace being forced to clear an early Town cross behind his own goal. Town went close to opening the scoring on 9 minutes, when Anthony Hickey got on the end of some neat interplay with Thompson only for his shot to find the side netting. Chorley’s best early chance falling to Jordan Stepien, who shot straight at Paul Pritchard in the Town goal.
Pritchard was on hand to deny Chorley’s former Blackburn Rovers striker Matt Jansen soon after as the game swung from end to end. Chris Gahgan went close soon after seeing his cross cum shot smuggled away by the defence after beating Dean Porter in the Chorley goal. Town were indebted to Pritchard soon after when he produced a fine low save to deny Jansen on the counter attack.
Town’s best chance of the half fell to striker Alan Collins who saw his shot, from an acute angle blocked by the keepers legs. Just before half time, Town should have taken a deserved lead, Collins seeing his diving header somehow fly over the bar, from within the six yard box. Once again, Chorley pushed forward but saw their opportunity denied by Pritchard.
Three minutes into the second half, Chorley finally managed to find a way past Pritchard, only to see the effort ruled out for offside. Town could have gone ahead in the 53rd minute when Thompson’s shot on the spin was blocked by the visitors defence. Once again the game was a very open affair, with both sides pressing forward. Thompson going close soon after once again, shooting too close to Porter.
The visitors got on top and began to enjoy their best spell of the game, and went close to equalising with substitute Aaron Key seeing his header headed off the line by Town captain Mike Tomlinson and defender Andy Watson seeing his header strike the outside of the upright and bounce away to safety. The flashpoint of the game occured with 11 minutes to go when Porter appeared to handle substitute Gavin Salmon’s shot outside of the penalty area, only for referee Mr Lamb to wave away the home sides protests. With time running out, Chorley went close to scoring only for Pritchard to produce a fine flying save to deny Stepien once again. From the resultant corner Tomlinson was once again on hand to clear off his own line and to see the ball to safety.
Town found the net in the 88th minute when Thompson got his head to a fine cross to loop the ball over Porter and into the net to seal a famous victory.

Collins goes so close

No Penalty – Chris Thompson is brought down in the box

For more pictures from the game CLICK HERE

Town: Pritchard, Duffy, Corrigan, T Hardwick, Tomlinson, Wade (Millington, 80), Hickey, Finley, Collins (Salmon, 72), Thompson, Gahgan (R Hardwick, 90), subs not used: Jukes, Bathurst