WARRINGTON Town made it three league wins on the bounce with a well earned 2-1 victory away at fellow play-off contenders Skelmersdale United.
Chris Gahgan opened the scoring after 15 minutes but the hosts pulled level a minute later through Lee Parle.
Warrington regained the lead on 23 minutes when Chris Thompson saw his penalty saved but managed to slam home the re-bound.
Town started the game better, taking the game to their hosts from the off, but it was the home side that had the first opportunity, midfielder Kyle Armstrong lobbing over when well placed.
Town soon took control of the game, striker Alan Collins stumbling whilst rounding Skelmersdale keeper Tom Brocklehurst, meaning he couldn’t finish the chance.
The home side went close on the break, midfielder Ken Strickland shooting wide when through on goal. It was no surprise when Town took the lead, winger Chris Gahgan latching onto youngster Sam Finley’s throughball, before finishing clinically past Brocklehurst. Town’s lead was short lived however, as Skelmersdale found an equaliser within 60 seconds, striker Carl O’Donnell heading a cross back across the box for midfielder Lee Parle to head home from close range. Town once again took the lead shortly afterwards, when a surging run from Finley was halted illegally and striker Chris Thompson stepped up, only to see his penalty saved, before slamming home the rebound from close range.
Town continued to surge forward, looking for a third goal to kill the game off, with Thompson dragging his shot narrowly wide when well placed. The best opportunity for a third goal for Town before half time fell to Collins who shot weakly at Brocklehurst when finding himself one on one with the keeper. Five minutes before half time, the home side almost found a way past Town’s resolute rearguard, but O’Donnell’s shot from distance could only find the side netting.
The second half saw Town continue to control the game, midfielder Anthony Hickey forcing Brocklehurst into a fine low save, with a 25 yard effort. Thompson found himself through on goal soon after, but like his colleague previously, shot weakly at Brocklehurst. Recent signing Adam Jukes, who has joined the club from NPower League two side Macclesfield Town, headed over the cross bar when unmarked at the far post. The home side had their best chance to equalise when O’Donnell found himself free in the box, only to, inexplicably, head into the side netting. Skelmersdale were reduced to ten men on the hour, when central defender Rob McIntosh received his marching orders, picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Thompson. Town continued to press forward looking for a third goal to kill the game off, with Collins being denied by a last gasp challenge, before Louis Corrigan saw his excellent curling free kick palmed around the post by Brocklehurst. Thompson, Collins and substitute Gavin Salmon were all denied before the final whistle as Town earned a deserved three points.
Town: Pritchard, Duffy, Corrigan, Dukes, Tomlinson (c), Wade (Millington, 80), Hickey (R Hardwick, 90), Finley, Collins (Salmon, 83), Thompson, Gahgan, sub not used: Ness
