A LAST gasp equaliser deep in injury time gave Warrington Town a share of the points with a 1-1 draw at Garforth Town on Saturday.
New signing Stuart Wellstead opened his account for the club in the 4th minute of injury time during a frantic goalmouth scramble which saw the ball bounce off his knee and into the net to the delight of the travelling fans.
The match started slowly, with both sides, meeting for the first time, trying to test out unknown opposition.
Town’s Ritchie Mottram was the first goalkeeper called into action, with a smart low save to deny the home side.
Town soon got into the game and striker Carl Rendell saw his effort deflected away for a corner, the same player going close soon after with a drive that went narrowly wide of the target. Mottram was called into action once again to deny striker Andy Hayward.
The game sparked into life two minutes into the second half when towering centre half Brett Renshaw was on hand to volley home after a free kick had not been cleared. The introduction of substitutes Kev Towey and Jamie Holme changed the game in Town’s direction. It was Towey who created some chances, seeing his goalbound effort bllift and a mazy run from Holme saw Town go close to an equaliser, his shot poked narrowly wide. Winger Scott Williams was next to go close, seeing his header saved by the home keeper.
Town laid siege to the Garforth goal in the final quarter and Chris Gahgan was next to go close, when he saw his effort go narrowly wide of the target, after good work by Towey. Four minutes into the five allocated minutes of injury time, Town deservedly got their equaliser, when Garforth failed to clear a towering header by Chris Fitzsimmons, the ball went out to the wing, where Williams drove it back in, and Wellstead was on hand to bundle the ball home his first goal for the club, much to the delight of the large travelling support behind the goal.
Pictures show Chris Gaghan having his shirt tugged when he was clean through and Wellstead celebrating his equaliser deep in injury time.
Team: Mottram, Farrell, Fitzsimmons, Spearitt, Thomas, Hunter (Holme, 58), Hadland (Wellstead, 68), Daniels, Rendell (Towey, 58), Gahgan, Williams, Subs not used: Webb, Tickle.
