WARRINGTON Town got the better of Northern Premier League rivals South Shields in the FA Trophy first round.
On-loan Southport forward Connor Woods continued his fine goalscoring form, scoring a brace in a 3-1 win over Kevin Phillips’ side.
It was the first meeting between these two since their dramatic play-off semi-final back in May, which the Yellows won on penalties.
South Shields named a strong team in preparation for their big FA Cup clash against Forest Green Rovers next week, and had the first chance of the game through Josh Doherty.
The Yellows took the lead through an unlikely avenue on the half hour mark, as central defender Tom Hannigan slotted home.
They doubled their advantage six minutes later as Woods got on the end of Matty McDonald’s low cross for the first of his two.
But South Shields changed the atmosphere of the half-time team talks when Lewis Alessandra fired past Tony Thompson two minutes before the break for 2-1.
Woods restored Warrington’s two-goal lead on the hour mark, battling through the box and poking home from six yards for his fifth goal in as many games.
Thompson denied Joao Gomes moments later, but South Shields didn’t create any furhter chances until the final nine minutes when Dillon Morse’s header was saved and then Tom Broadbent’s header was disallowed for a foul.
The Yellows could have added a fourth late on, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts striking a post, but it was a job well done in front of a 577-strong crowd at Cantilever Park.
Yellows boss Mark Beesley was understandably pleased with his team’s performance, and the prospect of testing themselves against higher league opposition in the next round.
He said: “It was a good performance. I thought we played some really good stuff, in and out of possession. We had a good shape about us. They’re a really good team and they caused us some problems, but we sorted a few things out at half time and I thought as the game wore on, we could have got a few more goals.
“It’s a good opportunity for us with the way we’re playing at the moment, we’re enjoying it. We want a home draw, a big game at home is what we’re in football for.”
Warrington Town: Thompson, Seary, White, Hannigan, Gumbs, Harris, Mols (Dixon), Williams, Woods (Amis), McDonald, Clarke (Buckley-Ricketts). Unused subs: Walker, Mfuni.
South Shields: Boney, Hunter, Broadbent, Marriott, Morse, Ross, McGowan, Briggs, Alessandra, Gomez-Carrington, Doherty. Subs: Adams, Smith, Woods, Henry.
