Stocksbridge Park Steels 2 Warrington Town 2
WARRINGTON travelled to play-off contenders Stocksbridge Park Steels looking to upset the form book and indeed started the brighter of the two teams in their final game of the season.
Midfielder Karl Brown had The Wire’s first opportunity when his well-struck free kick flew narrowly over the cross bar.
Stocksbridge striker Rob Ward then should have put the home side in front, but he could only steer his unchallenged header off target.
Town’s positive start continued after that and it was only the cross bar that kept the scores level when Thomas Spearitt saw his effort come back off the woodwork.
Scott Williams finally put the visitors in front when he finished well from the edge of the box after Brown’s initial free kick had been blocked by the wall.
The half sprung into life as it drew to close, with Carl Fothergill missing a glorious chance to bring Stocksbridge level, before home keeper Adam Jeffry was dismissed for a deliberate handball outside the area to deny Thomas Lamb.
Stocksbridge seemed far more determined after the break to change the scores around and were level just 12 minutes after the re-start when Diego Bassanini brought Ward down in the area, leaving Alvyn Riley to convert from 12-yards.
Despite being down to 10-men, it was Stocksbridge who were making all the running and as a result took the lead when Fothergill finished coolly past Bassanini.
The Yellows’ keeper did make amends moments later when top-scorer Lamb raced past a static home defence to latch on to Bassanini’s clearance and bring the scores level.
Warrington looked the side most likely to go on and win after that, but their cause wasn’t helped by the dismissal of Kevin Towey for an off the ball clash.
The final whistle brought the curtain down on a tumultuous season for Town, who eventually finished 13th in Uni Bond Division One South.
Town: Bassanini, Everett, Fitzsimmons, Spearitt (C), Thomas, Prescott (Owens, 46), K.Brown (Daniels, 69), Smith, Rendell (Towey, 69), Lamb, Williams
Picture shows: Francis Smith taking on the home defence
For more pictures from the game CLICK HERE
