WARRINGTON Town made it two wins out of two across the Bank Holiday weekend thanks to a Ben Wharton brace in a 2-0 win at Northwich.
Wharton crashed one home off the underside of the crossbar 10 minutes before the break following good work from Chris Gaghan, and then lashed in a second with the outside of his right foot in the early stages of the second half.
It marked a good weekend’s work for Town, who followed up Saturday’s 1-0 win over Ramsbottom with their second victory of the season.
Left-back David Thompson impressed on his debut, coming in for Phil Davies who dropped to the bench, with Michael Kennedy switching to right-back.
Northwich, now playing their home games at Flixton FC, didn’t trouble Craig Dootson in the opening half hour, while at the other end Wharton was already proving to be a handful, neatly rounding a defender and pulling back for David Mannix, who should have done better with his left foot shot on the 20 minute mark.
As the hosts began to impose themselves in the game, a low driven pass by Kennedy set Town off on a counter attack, and Gaghan held the ball up on the left, before teeing up Wharton who found the back of the net with a superb strike from the edge of the box for 1-0.
That jolted Northwich in to action, and they wasted a handful of opportunities before half time.
Darren Green was causing problems on the left, and his goalbound shot was only blocked by Kennedy’s outstretched leg, just minutes after Warrington had taken the lead.
Green perhaps should have done better moments later when he headed wide from a right-wing cross, while former Warrington striker Tony Evans was also denied, his header saved by goalkeeper Dootson.
Warrington were maybe relieved to hear the half time whistle, none more so than after a miscommunication saw James McCarten leave a through ball for Green to chase, but his tame shot was easily saved by Dootson.
Northwich continued from where they left off after the break, forcing Warrington on to the back foot, and they again wasted a headed chance, with Evans heading over from a good position.
Just as the visiting fans were preparing themselves for a long half of defending, Mannix launched a counter attack with a lofted through ball for Wharton to chase. The number nine gathered the ball, and as his marker backed off, lashed home a shot with the outside of his right foot from outside the area.
The two goal cushion settled Warrington, and they managed to restrict the hosts to half chances. A long stoppage for an injury to Northwich’s Danny Gregson saw nine minutes added on, but Shaun Reid’s men held on to record a 2-0 win.
Warrington are next in action in the FA Cup preliminary round against Winsford FC at the HG Driver Recruitment Stadium on Saturday.
Ben Wharton rifles home his first and celebrates with Jack West above.
Warrington: Dootson, Kennedy, Thompson, West, McCarten, Robinson, Millington, Mannix, Wharton, Kilheeney, Gaghan. Subs: Dogan (for West), Davies, Mooney (for Millington), Newby (for Gaghan), Greenwood.
Northwich: Deasy, Smalley, Garner, Gregson, Mercer, Thomas, Brees, Taylor, Green, Wisdom, Evans. Subs: Beattie, Carney, Lugsden (for Evans), Parillon (for Gregson), Summerskill.
The travelling barmy army celebrate
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