Picture John Hopkins
WARRINGTON Town progressed to the semi-finals of the Cheshire Senior Cup with a 1-0 win over 1874 Northwich.
David Raven’s strike on the stroke of half-time was enough for the Yellows against opponents from two divisions below them in the football pyramid.
It was a relatively strong Yellows side, though captain Mark Roberts, goalkeeper Tony McMillan, Jack Mackreth and Scott Brown were among the players afforded a night on the sidelines.
The hosts were out enthused in a bland first half, where 1874 Northwich had a couple of good sightings at goal, coming closest when Marcus Burgess nearly allowed Lee Knight’s shot to squirm in to the corner.
The visitors were unfortunate to go in a goal down at the break, a Dylan Vassallo corner bouncing around the goalmouth before Raven hammered home from close range, in not too dissimilar fashion to the previous home game against Whitby Town.
The Yellows controlled more of the second half, but 1874 continued to threaten on the break, and almost got the equaliser through Jake Parker, denied by the legs of Burgess.
Warrington had chances of their own, Josh Amis missing a couple of guilt-edged ones in his first start since September.
Substitute Callum Gardner nearly forced a penalty shoot-out as he fizzed a free-kick past everyone and wide of the far post, but ultimately it was the hosts that progress to the last four.
Warrington Town: Burgess, Carden, Warren, Duggan, Sephton, Raven, Harris (Kanu), Dixon, Amis (Sharp), Gray (Nelson), Vassallo. Unused subs: Jebrin.
1874 Northwich: Aghayere, Koral Tinning, Jackson, Jones, Parker, Hind (Gardner), Wooley (Wellstead), McGowen, Weir (Hare), Knight. Unused subs: Russell, Wooley.
