Penalty spares Town blushes in Boxing Day clash

A CONTROVERSIAL second half penalty rescued a point for Warrington Town at Witton Albion to move them level on points with Northwich Victoria at the top of Evo-Stik League First Division North.

Warrington were second best for much of the match and were thankful to the composure of captain Ciaran Kilheeney from the spot and goalkeeper Karl Wills, who pulled off a number of top class saves, including from a Witton penalty.

In the only game in the division that survived the weather on Boxing Day, Witton led in the first half through Tom Schofield but Warrington fought back after the break to extend their unbeaten run in the league to six games.

Ben Wharton made a rare start in place of the injured Scott Metcalfe, while youngster Liam Turner continued in the middle of midfield in the absence of the suspended Nathan Burke.

Witton, who play fierce local rivals and league leaders Northwich on Monday in a tricky festive double header, were unchanged having won back-to-back games.

Shaun Reid’s men started sluggishly and fell behind on 15 minutes. Schofield first forced a superb diving save from Wills with a half volley, and then a minute later he headed in to the bottom corner from Rob Hopley’s flick-on for the first league goal Warrington had conceded since October 20.

Schofield came close to a second goal minutes later, cutting in from the left and curling wide of the far post as Witton threatened down both flanks. Right winger Danny Andrews had the next chance, forcing Wills again to show his agility by tipping over the far post.

It was mainly down the left that Witton were having success, Jamie Menagh driving in to the box and finding the side netting, before left-back Jon Dawson carried the ball forward and drilled a shot wide of the far post.

On the stroke of half time, Alex Titchiner got away on the counter attack and Alex McQuade was hesitant in making a challenge and when he eventually made one, it was too late and inside the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Up stepped Andrews, only to see his firmly hit penalty parried away to the left by Wills, who will no doubt have been thanked by his manager and team-mates for keeping his side in the game at half time.

Witton will have been disappointed to only take a one goal advantage in to the second half as they waited for a Warrington response.

It came, in a fashion, although Town were far from their fluent best, and didn’t trouble the Witton goalkeeper throughout.

Wharton’s drive that went well over the bar perhaps summed up both his and Town’s performance shortly before the hour mark, before they were handed a lifeline on 73 minutes.

Danny Ventre’s corner caused a scramble in the box, and as Witton cleared, the ball came out to Ventre who got a shot away before being collided in to by Dawson. Much of the crowd looked on in bemusement as the referee pointed to the spot.

Warrington didn’t need a second invitation to grab an equaliser, and Kilheeney stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way for his 16th goal of the season.

Five minutes later, Kilheeney had a genuine penalty claim of his own, as he was clumsily pulled down inside the box by Ryan Ellison, with referee waving it away in perhaps one of those moments where two wrongs supposedly make a right.

The game opened up in the final 10 minutes, and Town were grateful to a couple of critical clearances from James McCarten, and in the end Town were relieved to get away with a point.

Warrington’s next game comes on Monday, at home to Trafford (3pm).

Witton Albion: Firth, Gardner, Dawson (Brewster), Wilson, Ellison, Reeves, Menagh, Schofield, Hopley, Titchiner, Andrews. Unused subs: Matthews, Roddan, Bainbridge, Garner.

Warrington Town: Wills, Brown, McQuade, Ventre, McCarten, O’Donnell, Wharton (Rudge), Turner, Kilheeney, Deegan, Gahgan. Unused subs: Robinson, Metcalfe, Collins.