WARRINGTON Town beat Cammell Laird 3-0 to return to the top of Evo-Stik First Division North table.
Following Curzon Ashton’s 4-0 win over Salford City on Monday, Town needed to win by a two goal margin to return to the summit and they managed one better thanks to goals from Aaron Bowen, (pictured top) Chris Gahgan and Ash Ruane (pictured right).
For the second consecutive home game, Warrington hit the front inside three minutes, as on-loan Bowen lashed home from the edge of box as the hosts controlled the opening exchanges.
Ciaran Kilheeney, on his return from injury, had a half chance to double the scoring, but lashed his shot over the bar.
However, Cammell Laird began to find their feet in the game, and the dangerous Paul Foy headed over from a right wing cross.
An equaliser almost came from the foot of a Town player, when Carlos Meakin sliced his clearance from a Laird corner, and watched the ball fly past the post.
Phil Davies and Craig Robinson got themselves in to the referee’s notebook for fouls on Foy, and the visitors looked to have all the momentum.
But that shifted on the half hour mark, as they were hit on the counter attack. John McKenna managed to get himself free in midfield, and bear down on goal. He poked the ball around the oncoming goalkeeper and was brought down, and it fell to Gahgan who was able to guide the ball in to the empty net for 2-0.
That knocked the stuffing out of Laird, who struggled to create anything for the rest of the first half.
In fact, Town came close to adding a third on a couple of occasions. Meakin’s drive released Bowen, and the big centre forward almost steered it back to his team mate in the middle, only to be denied by a defender.
Kilheeney then nearly took advantage of a hesitant goalkeeper, and Meakin’s low drive was tipped round the post.
Town took a 2-0 lead in to the break, and they seemed content to sit on it for the early stages of the second half.
Marshalled superbly, as ever, by centre-back and captain Craig Robinson, Town gave little change to the Laird attackers, and slowly the threat began to evaporate.
As the game wore on, Town were finding more space themselves at the other end, as Bowen continued to cause problems for the visitors defence.
A strong Bowen run caused a defender to hack a clearance against the bar, and the introduction of the lively Ruane alongside him added a further threat.
The third goal came 10 minutes from time. Bowen was brought down just inside the Laird half, and Phil Davies’ free-kick was fired in towards the big man, with the ball falling to Ruane, who smartly swivelled and buried the ball in to the goal with his left foot.
It marked a 10th league game unbeaten and a ninth clean sheet of the season for Shaun Reid’s men.
Ash Ruane collects the ball in the box before scoring
Skipper Craig Robinson receives the Man of the Match reward from club Vice President James Gordon from JDG Media.
Warrington: Cook, Davies, Metcalfe, Dogan, McCarten, Robinson, Kilheeney (Newby), Meakin (Mooney), Bowen, McKenna, Gahgan (Ruane). Unused subs: Millington, Wharton.
Cammell Laird: Atherton, Potter, Parle (Reilly), Hollett, Aysart, O’Brien, Couch (Foley), Evans, Henders, Foy (Webb), Lundon. Unused subs: Ferrigan.
