Promotion hopes nose dive

WARRINGTON Town’s promotion ambitions nose dived as they crashed 4-1 at home to Skelmersdale United last night.
Town entertained Skelmersdale, looking to put behind them their disappointing FA Trophy result at Whitby last Saturday, against a side featuring three ex Town players.
The game began in heavy conditions, with both sides testing each other out, Jimmy McCarthy going close for Town and Skelmersdale striker Ryan Wade, shooting narrowly wide. Town keeper Zac Jones was called into action shortly afterwards to deny Wade.
The visitors took control of the game in the 29th minute, when former Town youngster Steve Akrigg blasted home a free kick, which appeared to wrong foot Jones.
Within a minute Town were further behind, when striker Mark Houghton collected a pass and bent home his effort from 25 yards. Just four minutes elapsed before the visitors were further ahead, when Wade blasted home his drive from the angle of the box. Town suddenly woke up and Phil Hadland really should have scored when he forced an excellent save out of former Town stopper Ryan McMahon, an effort he should have buried, however, from the resultant corner, Town pulled a goal back when Karl Connelly’s excellent delivery was headed into his own goal by defender Shaun Foster.
Once again Skelmersdale found the net within a minute, Houghton getting his second of the game blasting home into the roof of the net. Darren Kinsey had the last chance of the half, but saw his effort well saved by McMahon.
The second half was something of an anti-climax, as the game had lost its edge. Karl Connelly was first to go close, seeing his long range effort going over the bar, from McMahon’s poor clearance.
Skelmersdale went close through Wade, who saw his effort rebound away off the upright. Town almost got a goal back, when Skelmersdale captain Michael White forced McMahon into an excellent save. Akrigg went close once again, when his header rebounded off the crossbar and to safety.
Town now need to pick themselves up and get their season back on track when they visit struggling Rossendale United on Saturday.

Pictures show Warrington’s only goal, Striker Tony Evans holding the ball and Phil Hadland firing over the bar.
Town: Jones, Grogan, Kinsey, Hardwick, Tomlinson (c), Taylor, Hadland, Connelly (Smith), Evans, McCarthy, Gahgan, subs not used: Dacey, Chetcuti, Brown