Match Report: Lancaster City 2-1 Warrington Town

TABLE topping Warrington Town slipped to only their fourth league defeat of the season in dreadful conditions at Lancaster City.

Two early second half goals were enough for the Dolly Blues, who held on at the end despite Town throwing everything at them after Ben Deegan’s goal had clawed them back in to the game.

Lancaster goalkeeper Mike Hale pulled off a crucial save in the dying stages of injury time to deny captain Ciaran Kilheeney as Town’s lead at the top of the table was reduced to 10 points.

Torrential rail fell for the majority of the match making conditions difficult as the pitch cut up continuously throughout the match.

That made playing football on the deck almost impossible, although to their credit both side’s contributed to what was a fair spectacle given the conditions.

After Lancaster forced the first corner, it was actually Town that had the first two half-chances. Kilheeney robbed on the edge of the box as a long ball was deflected past the last line of defence, before Scott Metcalfe dragged a long range effort wide.

Jacob Gregory was the main threat for the hosts, having a shot blocked by Daniel O’Donnell and then it his work down the right hand side that forced an important clearance from James McCarten in front of Karl Wills.

As the weather worsened, the first half turned in to a midfield battle. Craig Carney was perhaps fortunate not to see yellow after a long sliding tackle upended Phil Dean.

The only other real action of note in the first period was when Chris Gahgan failed to find one of three Town players in the box on the rare occasion that he got the better of opposite number Gavin Clark.

The opening goal came nine minutes in to the second half in a manner akin to the conditions. Town failed to clear and in a scramble of bodies in the muddy box, the ball eventually came out to striker Zach Clark who managed to steer the ball past Wills.

That prompted a double change from Town boss Stuart Mellish, as Ben Deegan and Joe Holt entered the fray to enable Town to revert to their usual 4-4-2, but by the time either could make an impact it was 2-0.

Carney found space in midfield and while he didn’t make the cleanest connection with his shot, it took a wicked deflection to completely wrong foot Wills.

Town almost got back in the game within a minute as Deegan powered down the right and pulled back for Gerard Kinsella, who fired over the bar first time from a good position.

The substitutes did have the desired impact on 67 minutes when a direct run from Holt down the right resulted in him floating a ball in to the box that was met by a fine diving header from Deegan in to the bottom corner.

For the final quarter of the match, Town threw what they could at the hosts.

Kinsella’s ball in to Kilheeney’s feet on the edge saw the league’s top scorer fashion some space for himself only to be denied by Hale.

Lancaster’s scrambling defence was keeping Town at bay, and the hosts could have put the game to bed on two occasions through Tom Kilifin as they look to hit Town on the counter attack.

As the game entered five minutes of injury time, McCarten had a header cleared off the line and then the best chance came when Kilheeney was put through on goal only for Hale to race out and make a crucial save.

From the rebound Kinsella had a shot blocked and then Metcalfe’s corner was headed away.

Lancaster held on to inflict just a fourth defeat of the season on Warrington, who host Witton Albion on Monday (3pm).

Joe Holt takes an early bath after coming on – picture John Hopkins

Ben Deegan heads home Town’s solitary goal – Picture John Hopkins

Jay McCarten wins the ball – Picture John Hopkins

Lancaster City: Hale, Henry, G Clark, Watson, Davis, Mercer, Winder (Marshall), Cummings (Langford), Z Clark (Kilifin), Carney, Gregory. Unused subs: Anderson, Rodgerson.

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

Lovely weather for @theyellows away @lancastercityfc pic.twitter.com/OTUAnQE6HC

— warrington-worldwide (@warringtonworld) March 26, 2016

The game was a lottery today – battled enough to deserve a draw but wasn’t to be – bring on Monday! https://t.co/bEWGStGP2x

— The Legend (@yellowslegend) March 26, 2016

Looking to bounce back on Monday where at press we need 12points from the remaining 18 to seal the title #promotrain #cswl #12from18

— Toby Macormac (@ChairmanWTFC) March 26, 2016

Unlucky today in really tough conditions thought it would be 1-1, great hospitality and friends @lancastercityfc who can make playoffs

— Toby Macormac (@ChairmanWTFC) March 26, 2016

Disappointing result for @theyellows today, but still top of the league with plenty of time to bounce back from a tough away fixture! 👍🏼

— Joanna (@joannaroberts_) March 26, 2016

@theyellows just a minor blip! Good thing that the next game is only a few days away! We’ll bounce back! C’mon Yellows!

— Dan (@dannyh9623) March 26, 2016