WARRINGTON Town threw away a hard earned 2-0 lead to crash out of the Doodson Sport Cup at in form Trafford. WARRINGTON Town threw away a hard earned 2-0 lead to crash out of the Doodson Sport Cup at in form Trafford.
Manager Shaun Reid named a strong starting line up, for a game that almost never began, due to fog enveloping Trafford’s Shawe View ground.
With the fog at its worse, neither side dominated the game early on, Trafford striker Michael Oates shooting over before Town’s Ash Ruane flashed a header across the face of goal. Next to go close for the home side was former Warrington Town winger Liam Shipton, who shot well over when well placed.
This came either side of Town’s left sided midfielder Phil Doran shooting the wrong side of the upright, as both sides settled into the game. As the half went on, the fog lifted, and the game became more open, with chances starting to be created more often, Town captain Peter Dogan shooting over before, less than 60 seconds later, the prolific Oates shot across the face of the Town goal, when through on goal with only Andy Robertson to beat.
On the stroke of half time, the home side went close to opening the scoring on two separate occasions, firstly not being able to apply a final touch to a goalmouth scramble, before Oates shot wide as the referee blew his whistle for the end of the first half.
The half time interval saw the introduction of Kevin Townson to the Warrington team, replacing Ciaran Kilheeney in attack. The game was now very open, with both sides creating chances to go ahead, Doran once again shooting wide before Oates went close once again, seeing his powerful drive tipped over by Robertson.
The game swung towards the visitors a minute before the hour, Townson producing a mazy run which was ended on the edge of the penalty area, the loose ball falling to midfielder Phil Mooney, who turned neatly to shoot home beyond Trafford keeper Tom Read and into the net. Just six minutes later, Town extended their lead, a poor clearance by Read fell to Townson, whose pass released Ash Ruane on the edge of the penalty area, who bore down on goal and smashed the ball home, despite the best efforts of Read.
Despite being two goals down, with less than 30 minutes to go, the home side never appeared to be out of the game, and went close to pulling a goal back, when winger Kamahl Wright found himself through on goal, only to be denied by Robertson.
With 16 minutes to go, the home side pulled a goal back, and it was a mistake from Town’s former Trafford keeper Robertson, who charged from his penalty area, only to be beaten to the ball by midfielder Shelton Payne, who ran the ball into the open net. The home side now had the momentum and were soon level, when Warrington’s defence failed to clear a cross, the ball falling to on rushing Martyn Andrews, who powerfully shot home.
There was now only one winner of the game, and with six minutes to go, the home side took the lead that they were never to relinquish. A free kick into the penalty area saw Trafford captain Nia Bayunu rise and glance a header into the corner of the net, past a statuesque Town rearguard. Try as the might, Town could not find an equalising goal and crashed out of their final cup competition of 2012.
Town: Robertson, Davies, Mitter, Dogan, Flynn, McCarten (West, 85), A Kilheeney, Mooney (Miles, 65), Ruane, C Kilheeney (Townson, 46), Doran
Atten 126
