Pictures: Jonathan Moore
WARRINGTON Town have been promoted to National League North after a dramatic play-off final win over Bamber Bridge.
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts was the hero with the scruffiest of 90th minute winners after the visitors had frustrated the home side and stopped them from playing the flowing football that fired them through Tuesday’s semi-final.
It looked like history would cruelly repeat itself when just like last year, the Yellows had a man sent off, when Josh Amis was shown the red card following an altercation with Macauley Wilson.
But they couldn’t be denied a deserved promotion having finished second in the league and reached a third consecutive play-off final, with substitute Buckley-Ricketts scrambling home Jay Harris’ mishit shot from a Dec Walker long throw.
The entire game was cagey and played with a nervous tension befitting the gravity of the reward, with neither side having ever played beyond this level before.
The Yellows had won the league fixture between the two sides 1-0 after playing the entire game with 90 minutes, and the man involved in that red card incident, Paul Dawson headed well over the bar for the only chance of the opening quarter.
Matty McDonald had Warrington’s first sight of goal, lofting a shot that dropped agonisingly wide of Felix Goddard’s far post.
Tony Thompson denied Rhys Turner, who might have had a penalty for a pull by Andy White, one-on-one before Goddard did the same at the other end to deny Luke Duffy.
But there wasn’t much in the way of chances, instead the game was regularly broken up by niggly fouls and bookings, sometimes encouraged by opposition players.
Hopes that the game would open up in the second half proved fruitless, and it appeared the game was heading for extra time and penalties until a dramatic last 10 minutes.
The Yellows thought their dreams were in tatters when Amis was shown a straight red card for lashing out at Wilson as they waited for a corner to come in, and the 10 men spent a spell with backs against the wall.
But in the final minute of the 90, back-to-back long throws from Walker saw Goddard save well from Tom Hannigan, and then when the second was only half cleared, Harris’ mishit shot was bundled in by Buckley-Ricketts.
There was still added time to play, though Bamber Bridge were also reduced to 10 men when the otherwise excellent Aaron Skinner was sent off for a cynical trip on Bohan Dixon.
But Warrington Town held on to secure promotion to the sixth tier of English football.
Warrington Town: Thompson, Walker, White, Hannigan, Gumbs, Harris, Woods (Buckley-Ricketts), McDonald (Williams), Amis, Dixon, Duffy (Duggan). Unused subs: Buckley. Mols.
Bamber Bridge: Goddard, Thomson (Stanley), Skinner, Mariette, Churchman (Stanley), Wilson, Sinclair, Roache, Turner (Forbes), Dawson, Sinclair-Smith. Unused subs: Robbins, Pradic.
— Jonathan Moore (@altymoore1) May 1, 2023
Well done to @theyellows on promotion to the national league north. One goal scored in the last few minutes sends them up. 1-0 FT @TheVanaramaNL @NorthernPremLge pic.twitter.com/kRuaVuuFh5
— Jonathan Moore (@altymoore1) May 1, 2023
GOALLLLLL!!!!!!! 90 | One of the scruffiest goals you’ve ever likely to see as Harris’ scuffed shot is just about helped on by Buckley-Ricketts and it sneaks in! 1-0 pic.twitter.com/C2WjNQSVSW
— Warrington Town FC (@theyellows) May 1, 2023
Down supporting @theyellows congratulations on the promotion pic.twitter.com/WHHqOPhkAg
— Warrington Schools FA (@warrschools) May 1, 2023
A fantastic day for @theyellows pic.twitter.com/uKu6WWpEfh
— Chris Sudworth (@kingsnoots) May 1, 2023
Congratulations to @theyellows on a long overdue promotion to the Vanarama National League North! 👏
A huge well done goes to Tony Thompson, Tom Hannigan, Andy White, Sean Williams and Josh Amis in particular. https://t.co/s5ODB1Xh72
— Altrincham FC (@altrinchamfc) May 1, 2023
@theyellows absolutely brilliant well done @Joshmossyamis and the lads we are going up 💛💛💛 @ilsonbred pic.twitter.com/4IRV5B6GpG
— Rob Warburton (@Rwarby2001) May 1, 2023
Yes @theyellows unbelievable @ChairmanWTFC well done legend pic.twitter.com/z8ird7lTHP
— Sean Willott (@SeanWillott) May 1, 2023
WARRINGTON TOWN HAVE WON THE @PitchingIn_ NPL PREMIER DIVISION PLAYOFFS AND ARE PROMOTED TO THE @THEVANARAMANL@theyellows pic.twitter.com/aaK5kcSDjj
— The Pitching In Northern Premier League (@NorthernPremLge) May 1, 2023
Sing it louder, @ConnorWoods98! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/VLiDY0R4jd
— Warrington Town FC (@theyellows) May 2, 2023
It's been quite some journey – through all the highs and lows, a whole season's work led to this one moment…
A historic day for our club! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ACqMXJszI3
— Warrington Town FC (@theyellows) May 1, 2023
🗣️ A quick message from the lads: pic.twitter.com/G57K2a7BGV
— Warrington Town FC (@theyellows) May 1, 2023
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts with a 90th minute winner to fire us to the @TheVanaramaNL North! 🔥
What. A. Moment! pic.twitter.com/3nBaqOrQz2
— Warrington Town FC (@theyellows) May 2, 2023