WARRINGTON Town secured three valuable points away at fellow strugglers Radcliffe thanks to a man-of-the-match performance from goal keeper Richie Mottram (pictured above) who pulled off a string of fine saves.
Town handed a debut to centre back, Jack Thornton, who has signed from Bamber Bridge and started brightest with striker Phil Howard first to go close, forcing keeper Phil Priestley to save with his knees early on.
The home side got into the game and forced Town keeper Mottram into a good low save. Town were indebted to Mottram, who produced two more spectacular saves to keep the scores level. Town had an opportunity to go ahead when striker Jimmy McCarthy beat Priestley to a Phil Hadland cross only to poke the ball wide of the target. The flashpoint of the match, saw Hadland booked after clashing off the ball with Radcliffe defender Owen Roberts, the Town wingman only seeing a Yellow card. Radcliffe spurned their best chance shortly afterwards when midfielder Mark Jones missed an open goal. It was Hadland (pictured right) who opened the scoring shortly before half time, when his angled run beat the offside trap and he finished coolly from a tight angle.
The second half began with the game being mostly played in the middle of the field, but Town were once more indebted to Mottram, who produced yet another fine save to deny the home side and tipped the resultant corner over the bar. Mottram produced yet another save to deny the home side soon afterwards. Phil Howard went closest for Town, when his header went wide of the upright. The home side continued to press forward in search of an equaliser, but it was not to be, as Joey Dunn’s outfit held out for the three points
Town: Mottram, Holme, Hardwick, Kielty (c), Jack Thornton, (D), Smith, Hadland, O’Donnell, McCarthy (Dutton, 79), Howard, Gahgan, subs not used: Riley, Berry
