Town suffer cup heart-break

WARRINGTON Town suffered Cheshire Cup heart-break as they were edged out 2-1 in a thrilling semi-final with higher league Northwich Victoria last night.
Town travelled to Evo-Stik Premier League Northwich for their first Cheshire Senior Cup semi final in nearly two decades, looking to cause a cup upset and extend their long unbeaten run, with manager Joey Dunn naming the same starting line up which drew with Mossley three days earlier.
The game itself started slowly, with neither side creating many chances early on, Town keeper Paul Pritchard being the first keeper to see action, to save a weak shot from midfielder Nathan Taylor. Town’s first chance fell to winger Anthony Hickey who headed straight at Jamie Spencer in the Northwich goal. Town striker Gavin Salmon was causing problems for the home defence, going close when forcing Spencer to clear from outside of his penalty area, before shooting too close to Spencer soon after.
Northwich should have gone ahead on the stroke of half time, a loose ball in the Warrington penalty area falling to striker John McAliskey who, despite having the whole goal to hit, shot too close to Pritchard, who produced a fine save with his left foot. Town could have scored on the stroke of half time, when youngster Sam Finley shot wide from an excellent Hickey cross.
The game burst into life in the second half, when almost immediately, McAliskey forced Pritchard into a fine save, and two minutes later, Town were awarded a penalty when Finley was shoved over in the box, but left back Louis Corrigan saw his penalty well saved by Spencer. Spencer was powerless to stop Town taking the lead shortly afterwards, when Mike Tomlinson rose in a packed penalty area to head home. Amazingly, a mere two minutes later, the home side were awarded a penalty, when Duffy felled striker Mark Peers, substitute Olly Ryan saw his penalty well saved by Pritchard, low to his left. The home side found an equaliser in the 66th minute, when McAliskey was given space to head home past a statuesque Town rearguard. The game changed with eighteen minutes left when Sam Finely was shown a straight red card for a two footed challenge, despite clearly taking the ball. With thirteen minutes left the winner arrived, Peers getting on the end of a quick break to slot home beyond Pritchard.
When Striker Chris Thompson was brought down with the goal at his mercy, one on one with the keeper Town were unlucky not to have beeen awarded a penalty and try as they might they could not find a way past the Northwich defence as their cup run sadly came to an end.

Pictures show (from the top) Skipper Mike Tomlinson heading Town into the lead, Gavin Salmon taking on the Vics keeper and the barmy army celebrating the opening goal.

For more pictures from the game CLICK HERE

Town: Pritchard, Duffy, Corrigan, T Hardwick, Tomlinson (c), Wade, Hickey, Finley, Thompson (Evans, 80), Salmon (Collins, 84), Gahgan, subs not used: Jukes, Ness, Hardwick