WARRINGTON Town’s mid season slump continued as they went down 4-1 at
unbeaten Durham City, finishing the game with nine men following the
second half dismissals of substitute Kevin Towey and goalkeeper Richie
Mottram.
From the kick off Town struggled to establish themselves in the game. The home side had the best early chance, midfielder Calvin Smith placing his unmarked header wide, when he should have tested Ritchie Mottram in the Town goal.
The home side continued to dominate and Town were fortunate to head a goalbound effort off the line. Warrington’s first effort at goal came in the 23rd minute, when Ant Daniels weak header forced Craig Turns, in the Durham goal, to make a low save. Two minutes later, the home side took the lead, central defender, Michael Laws seeing his header loop over everyone and into the corner of the goal.
Daniels again went close shortly afterwards, when his shot was straight at Turns. The home side should have gone further ahead shortly afterwards, when Smith saw his angled volley, smack against the bar and out again. Two minutes later, the home side doubled their lead, when captain Adam Johnstone was on hand to beat Mottram after a teasing cross from the right wing, Mottram was once again called into action to deny the home side with a low save at his near post.
Town began the second half much more brightly, looking to get back into the game, midfielder Adam Hunter seeing his unmarked bullet header smack back off the cross bar. The introduction of Karl Brown and Kevin Towey helped Town to maintain their good spell, and it was Daniels who met Brown’s corner, shortly afterwards to glance a header home at the near post.
Warrington introduced striker Billy Webb in search of an equaliser, but once again, Mottram was called into action to deny the home side. With 15 minutes to go, Durham increased their lead, when a long range effort from winger Tommy English, span past Mottram and into the net. Three minutes later, Towey got himself sent off, for a scuffle with midfielder Lewis Dodds, who only received a yellow card. Town continued to try to take the game to the home side, and Phil Hadland drove narrowly over after good work by Webb. One minute, into the allotted three, Mottram was sent off for handling the ball outside the area, a decision even the home supporters in the ground adjudged to be harsh. Having used all three substitutes, midfielder Jamie Holme went into goal and conceded a fourth two minutes later after a mix up in the Town rearguard.
Town: Mottram, Farrell, Fitzsimmons, Kielty, Thomas (Towey, 61), Holme, Daniels, Hunter (Brown, 53), Rendell (Webb, 69), Gahgan, Hadland, Sub not used: Moore
