VIDEO:WARRINGTON Town sent a message to their title rivals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Glossop North End.
Glossop started the game just two points behind Shaun Reid’s side, but were put to the sword by two early goals and a third on the stroke of half time.
It was a fifth consecutive win without conceding a goal for Warrington since the defeat to Burscough last month, and Reid’s men have now won 13 of their last 14 games.
In front a bumper crowd at Cantilever Park, Warrington started in lively fashion, Nathan Burke fashioning the first chance inside five minutes which curled just wide.
The home fans didn’t have to wait long for a goal, Chris Gahgan typically alert to bury the rebound after Scott Metcalfe’s shot was parried by the goalkeeper to give Warrington the lead.
Town midfielder Danny Ventre was dictating the tempo and when his marauding run through the middle was ended, it resulted in the first yellow card of the game for Glossop’s Josh Brizell.
The second goal came on 18 minutes, Ventre’s in-swinging corner from the left headed home by Ben Deegan.
That gave Warrington a cushion and in truth, they rarely looked like allowing any sort of opening for the visitors.
Metcalfe should have made it three when he latched on to Burke’s through ball off Deegan’s header down, only to be denied by a smothering save by the goalkeeper.
He did eventually find the net though, striking a sweet left-foot volley across the keeper after a ball across the box by Burke.
It virtually put paid to the game as a contest, and the second half past without much action of note.
Glossop were restricted to a couple of long range efforts, none of which came close to troubling Karl Wills, who is now close to 500 minutes without conceding a goal, while at the other end Burke came close with a well hit shot from 25 yards.
The win keeps Warrington level on points with league leaders Northwich Victoria.
Next week sees two cup games, as Ramsbottom United aim to make it third time lucky in hosting the Doodson Sport Cup tie after two postponements in the past fortnight, and then National League North side AFC Fylde visit Cantilever Park for the FA Trophy third qualifying round.
Warrington Town: Wills, Brown, McQuade, Ventre, McCarten, O’Donnell, Gahgan (Lester), Burke, Kilheeney, Deegan (Wharton), Metcalfe (Rudge). Unused subs: Robinson, Turner.
Glossop North End: King, Bowler, Smart, Eckersley, Young, Andrews, Mulholland, Brizell, McDonagh, Lugsden, Moran. Subs: Rainford, Bailey, White, Reed.
Scott Metcalfe shoots – Picture John Hopkins
Scott Metcalfe scores – Picture Barrie Scholes
Chris Gahgan scores – Picture John Hopkins
A delighted Chris Gahgan – Picture Barrie Scholes
Ben Deegan heads home – Picture John Hopkins
Ben Deegan celebrates – Picture Barrie Scholes
A delighted manager Shaun Reid – Picture John Hopkins
FOR GALLERY OF PICTURES CLICK HERE
1 Comment
Top performance from Warrington Town and a fantastic crowd of 432 – hopefully everyone will turn out in force for the FA Trophy 3rd qualifying match against Fylde next Saturday.