Wire struck by lightning twice!

LIGHTNING struck twice in eight days as Warrington Town once again

surrendered a two goal lead to crash 3-2 at near neighbours and fellow

play-off contenders Trafford – just as they had done in the league cup last week.
Town had a gret chance to take the lead early on when Peter Dogan

dispossessing Trafford defender Nia Banayu before freeing striker Ciaran

Kilheeney who bore down on goal, only for the prolific striker to shoot wide of

the upright with Trafford keeper Tom Read well beaten.
With the home side being

constantly pressured by Town, their defence looked uncertain for a while,

leading to chances for Town striker Townson, who shot wide when well placed and

Kilheeney, who saw his effort saved well by Read.
On 27 minutes, Town took a

deserved lead, John Miles playing in Townson, who showed neat footwork to slot

home past Read. Within a minute, Trafford were almost level, a break up field

saw Town defender Phil Doran’s attempted clearance strike his own upright and

bounce away to safety.
After this near miss, the home side came more into the

game and were awarded a penalty four minutes later, when Doran fouled Trafford’s

Michael Oates when through on goal, referee Mr Hull, somewhat surprisingly only

produced a yellow card for the defender. Oates stepped up only to blast his

penalty high over the cross bar.
Following this penalty miss, Town continued to

dominate the game, and went close five minutes afterwards, when former Liverpool

FC midfielder John Miles saw his 35 yard free kick smack against the cross bar,

and rebound to the home defence, who failed to clear the ball, which eventually

fell to McCarthy, who saw his pin point near post cross smashed home by

midfielder Phil Mooney.
Once again, the home side came back at Town, and the

visitors were grateful to goalkeeper Andy Robertson soon after, who saved well

from Trafford midfielder Paul Ashton’s powerful low drive.
The half time

introduction of Shelton Payne for Kamahl Wright gave Trafford fresh impetus

going forward, but it was Town who went closest early on, McCarthy seeing his

low shot well saved by Read, who gathered despite the on rushing presence of

Kilheeney and Townson.
Just on the hour, and Trafford pulled a goal back, Ashton

being given space to meet Payne’s cross at the far post and shoot home beyond

Robertson and into the roof of the net. With a goal between the teams, the game

opened up, in very heavy rain, with McCarthy seeing his powerful drive saved at

full length by Read, before the home side found an equaliser that their play

deserved. Oates picking up the ball 35 yards out from goal, before advancing and

slamming home low beyond Robertson from well outside of the penalty area.
With

just under a quarter of an hour left, Trafford were awarded another penalty,

Payne going down easily under the challenge of Doran, the tackle being adjudged

to be a penalty by the assistant referee, who flagged immediately, and Mr Hull

pointed to the spot.
Payne this time stepped up, and made no mistake, beating

Robertson, who went the right way but couldn’t make the save. After being ahead

for so long, and now being behind, Town struggled to get back into the game, and

never really created a chance or tested Read in the short time that was left,

despite the introduction of Ash Ruane from the subs bench

Town:

Robertson, Davies, Doran, Dogan (c), Mitter, McCarten, McCarthy, Mooney, Townson

(Ruane, 84), Miles, C Kilheeney, subs not used: A Kilheeney, West, Flynn