Town march on in F.A Cup

WARRINGTON Town produced their best performance of the season with a stunning 0-4 victory at Bamber Bridge in the 1st qualifying round of the F.A Cup.
First half goals from Jamie Henders amd Sam Finley, and two second half efforts from Chris Thompson, the first a penalty after Mike Duffy had been brought down in the box, saw Warrington through to a second round qualifying clash away at table topping Evo-Stik Premier League outfit Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday October 1.
It was Bamber Bridge who started the best of the two sides, winger Alex Porter shooting wide early on, before a spell of pressure from the home side saw them earn a number of corners, coming closest through Porter once again, who glanced a near post header over the crossbar when unmarked.
The home side should have taken the lead in the 18th minute, when striker Ryan Salmon blasted over the bar when it was far easier to score, before midfielder Danny Mahoney placed a free kick too close to Chris Oldfield in the Town goal. After weathering this spell of home pressure, Town started to get into the game, with Chris Gahgan seeing his powerful drive saved by former Town keeper Dave Stevenson’s legs at the near post.
Warrington took the lead on the half hour, striker Jamie Henders getting onto the end of a teasing cross to send a bullet header into the corner of the net.
Despite now being in control of the game, Town were indebted to Oldfield, who produced a fine save to deny Salmon once again. Town went further ahead in the 34th minute, Sam Finley collecting a pass on his chest before flicking the ball over his marker, and beating Stevenson with a low angled drive into thhe bottom corner. Town almost went further ahead soon after, when full back Matt Doughty saw his long range effort saved by Stevenson on his own line. Town were now in total control of the game, and midfielder Adam Wade was next to test Stevenson, with a powerful drive from the edge of the penalty area, which Stevenson saved well. The last chance of the half saw Henders go close, seeing his drive saved by Stevenson.
The second half began with the home side looking to get back into the game, striker Matt Mahoney, shooting across the face of Oldfield’s goal before the same player went close when Oldfield tipped his shot onto the crossbar. As in the first half, Town soon began to take control of the game, with striker Chris Thompson seeing his curling effort go narrowly wide of the upright.
Town went further ahead in the 59th minute, when Mike Duffy was felled in the box, and referee, Mr O’Rourke pointed to the spot. Thompson stepped up and saw his effort saved by Stevenson, however, the ball spun back into the net to put Town further ahead. Still the home side tried to get into the game, substitute Sefton Gonzales seeing his towering header well saved by Oldfield, before the same player denied fellow substitute Neil Reynolds. Town killed the game off with twelve minutes left, when Town’s former Bamber Bridge striker Thompson got on the end of a fine team move to drive powerfully past Stevenson and into the net.
Town could have gone further ahead before the end, when Gahgan saw his low shot, well saved by Stevenson. The last chance of the game fell to Porter, who flashed a glancing wide of the target when unmarked in the penalty area.
Now Joey Dunn’s men face a trip to Garforth in the league this Saturday followed by a trip to Runcorn Linnets in the Cheshire Senior Cup next Tuesday.