WARRINGTON Town secured three valuable league points with a hard
earned 2-1 away win at strugglers Goole AFC thanks to goals from
debutant striker Josh Hine and fellow marksman Ciaran Kilheeney (pictured above).
Manager Shaun Reid, handed a debut to prolific striker Josh Hine, signed from league rivals Skelmersdale, and Ben Say, who recently signed for the club, having earlier been on loan from previous club Stockport County.
On a poor surface, it was the home side who had the first chance, striker Bill Law played through, only to see his shot hit the side netting when well placed. After this early let off, Town began to control the game, centre half James McCarten saw his goalbound header deflected wide by the home rearguard. Town had a great chance to open the scoring in the 7th minute, Goole keeper Lee Appleby dropping a cross at full length, only for the waiting Ciaran Kilheeney to shoot into the side netting. Town did hit the front in the 9th minute, John Miles excellent cross being finished on the swivel by Hine from 10 yards. Kilheeney went close shortly afterwards, shooting narrowly wide of the upright from the edge of the box. The home side looked dangerous in patches and two chances in three minutes illustrated this, first winger James Booker, headed over a teasing free kick before striker Aidan Savory shot over when well placed in the penalty area. On the half hour, Goole had their best chance to equalise, Town goalkeeper Andy Robertson dropping an innocuous looking cross at the feet of Savory, who saw his effort cleared off the line by McCarten. McCarten himself, had a great chance to put Town further ahead, a cross into the box, was missed by everyone, and fell to McCarten at the far post, who hammered his shot wide. Town continued to dominate proceedings, Phil Mooney finding himself played through, and rounded Appleby, only to shoot wide from a very acute angle.
The half time interval saw substitute Phil Doran replace Ben Say at full back, tucking in at left back and seeing Phil Davies switch to right back. Town continued to have the best of the game early in the half, with Hine shooting over from an angle. Town went close to extending their lead soon after, Kilheeney getting to the byline, before puling the ball back for Miles, who shot too close to Appleby, who made the save. Just after the hour, Goole went close to equalising, a rare mix up in the Town rearguard, presented Savory with the ball, only for Robertson to save well. A number of substitutions for both teams ended any flow to the game, and, as so often happens when a team does not kill off a game, the team who have been under pressure equalised, a free kick into the box, was headed home in the bottom corner by Savory.
Within two minutes, Town went back ahead again, a long clearance from Robertson was reached by Kilheeney before the advancing Appleby, tapping it round him, before rolling the ball into the empty net. Once again, Town retook control of the game, and only for a poor touch by Hine, would surely have gone further ahead soon after. Before the end, Ash Ruane was to go close, seeing his piledriver go narrowly over the crossbar.
Town: Robertson, Say (Doran, 46), Davies, Mooney, Doran (c), McCarten, Miles (Newby, 61), McLachlan Ruane, 72), Kilheeney, Josh Hine (d), Lee Parle, sub not used: Heverin
