Town go 10 points clear at top as Northwich slip up

WARRINGTON Town moved 10 points clear at the top of the table with a 3-0 win over Kendal Town.

A week before the crunch trip to rivals Northwich, Town recorded their ninth successive league victory, while a late equaliser and a missed penalty meant Northwich only drew at home to lowly Harrogate.

Even a missed penalty from Scott Metcalfe couldn’t stop Warrington recording their 24th win of the season, with goals from Ben Deegan, Steven Gillespie and Gerard Kinsella.

Missing suspended captain Ciaran Kilheeney, Warrington had the first chance of the game when Kinsella broke through but could only manage a weak shot straight to the goalkeeper.

Kinsella turned provider for the game’s opening goal on 17 minutes, his ball to the back post headed goalwards by Chris Gahgan and diverted home at the back post by Deegan.

Gahgan blazed over with a left foot half volley, before Aaron Helliwell had a similar chance at the other end, his effort a lot more sweetly hit and fell just wide.

Kinsella’s run set up Gahgan for another chance, only for his shot to be blocked, and Town had shouts for a penalty turned down when Metcalfe was brought down under a firm challenge in the box.

They were awarded a spotkick on 41 minutes when Gahgan and Joe Holt exchanged a one-two, and the latter saw his effort blocked by a hand.

Up stepped the normally unflappable Metcalfe, but he scuffed his penalty wide of the keeper’s left hand post.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half passed without any action of note, and the longer time went in, the more it looked like Town would need a second goal to be sure.

Their chance came on 66 minutes when James McCarten was pushed in the back off a Metcalfe corner, and the referee awarded a second penalty.

Usual taker Metcalfe stepped aside and substitute Gillespie made no mistake, scoring his first goal since his return from a lengthy injury spell.

A corner almost led to a third goal, McCarten’s header kept out by a combination of defender and crossbar.

The third goal came on 77 minutes, Deegan finding plenty of space on the right and then laying it on a plate for Kinsella, who made no mistake from close range to score his first goal since returning to the club a fortnight ago.

With news of the drama unfolding at Northwich who eventually drew 1-1 after themselves missing an injury time penalty, reached Warrington, the home supporters went home in jubilant mood ahead of Warrington’s trip to Harrogate on Monday.

Warrington Town: Wills, Brown, Lea, Ventre (Rudge), McCarten, O’Donnell, Gahgan (Gillespie), Kinsella, Holt, Deegan, Metcalfe (Dean). Unused subs: Turner, Beattie.

Kendal Town: Kitchen, Aspin, Hoctor, Bailey, Robson, Wardle, Taylor (Towers), Forbes, Gierke (Lucas), Newby, Helliwell. Unused subs: Cowley, Thomas.