WARRINGTON Town’s play off hopes suffered a set back as they surrendered
a two goal lead against the nine men of bottom of the league Wakefield
in a disappointing 2-2 draw.
Town were cruising at the break thanks to an early goal from Rob Hardwick followed by a penalty by brother Tom as the hosts had two players sent off. The only negative was the loss of the influential Matty Cross through injury.
But the expected onslaught against the nine man of Wakefield, without a win since last August and without a goal in their last four outings, never came as the hosts produced an unexpected turnaround.
Manager Joey Dunn, made two enforced changes to the starting line up from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat of Woodley Sports, bringing in Chris Thompson and Bret Adamson in place of of the injured Gavin Salmon and Kyle Hamid.
It was the home side who had the best early chance, striker Caldon Henson shooting across the Town goal when well placed.
Gradually, Town began to get on top and they hit the front on 12 minutes, birthday boy Rob Hardwick (pictured right) acrobatically volleying home Allan Collins cross from ten yards. With Town, generally in control of proceedings, their push for the play offs suffered a set back, when Matty Cross was forced to leave the field, to be replaced by centre half Dave Ness, who was making his first senior appearance in nineteen months, having suffered a bad injury himself at Witton in August 2010.
The subsequent re-organisation, saw River Humphreys move into the midfield anchor position, with Ness going to centre half. Town continued to press forward, Thompson seeing his effort being deflected for a corner. Town went further ahead on twenty eight minutes, when midfielder Liam Shipton capitalised on a mistake in the Wakefield defence, only to be dragged down in the penalty area by defender Declan Normaschild, who was subsequently red carded. Tom Hardwick once again stepped up and blasted home the resultant spot kick, to give Town what should have been a match winning lead. Just three minutes later, Town could have gone further ahead, Allan Collins being played through by Thompson, only to blast over when well placed.
Adamson was next to go close, seeing his shot being deflected behind by the home defence. On the stroke of half time, Wakefield were reduced to nine men when debutant midfielder Liam O’Mahoney saw red for appearing to aim a headbutt at Tom Hardwick. Despite being down to nine men, Wakefield went close before half time, defender Darren Thornton saw his long range free kick fall onto the roof of the net.
Wakefield came out for the second half, looking re-energised and immediately took the game to Town, with Moke heading wide early on.
Town, who were earlier cruising, now appeared to be on the back foot, despite having the extra two men, Shipton shooting wide from outside of the penalty area, before Collins saw his diving header go high over the Wakefield crossbar.
Just after the hour, the home side were awarded a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty after Ness was adjudged to have fouled Wakefield striker Henson, with strike partner Fernando Moke stepping up to see his penaty hit the net, despite the ball striking Town goalkeeper Paul Pritchard in the process.
Town, who were struggling to find any kind of fluency, continued to be forced into long range efforts, Shipton once again shooting narrowly wide before Rob Hardwick sliced wide from the edge of the box. Town should have sealed the game with twelve minutes left, but Allan Collins jinking run and pull back for substitute Dylan Glass, saw the sixteen year olds shot smack against the crossbar and rebound to safety.
After this let off, Wakefield pushed forward looking for a somewhat unlikely equaliser, with Hendon seeing his shot blocked by the Town rearguard. With five minutes left, Wakefield found the equaliser they had been searching for, substitute Jassim Alili rising highest from a corner to head home beyond Pritchard. Following this set back, Town twice went close before the final whistle, Rob Hardwick seeing his shot go wide, before his header from Collins cross sail high over the Wakefield bar.
Warrington will have to improve considerably if they hope to get anything at Curzon on Saturday.
Owen Roberts challenges for the ball
Town: Pritchard, Jackson (Glass, 71), Roberts, Humphreys, T Hardwick, Cross (Ness, 19), Adamson, Thompson, Collins, R Hardwick, Shipton, subs not used: Hamid, Anderson
