MANAGER Joey Dunn stuck with the same team which did so well at Curzon but a number of missed chances by striker Phil Howard saw Town crash 0-3 at home to promotion chasing Bamber Bridge.
Howard failed to find the back of the net on at least half a dozen occasions, including three one-on-one’s with the Bridge keeper.
The missed opportunities came back to haunt Town, who should have been at least two up when the visitors scored with their first chance of the game from a free-kick just before the break.
Town also finished with 10 men with Ant Daniels dismissed midway through the second half for a second bookable offence.
The game saw Warrington welcome back a number of old boys including Colin McAllister, Matty Elder plus brothers Phil and Graeme Mitchell- and former manager Ian Street, now assistant at Bamber Bridge.
The opening ten minutes saw each side struggle to find openings with efforts limited to long range shots. The best chance of the half fell at the mid way point to Howard. A ball down the middle found its way through to the striker whose turn left the last defender trailing but his shot went straight at Andy Banks. Then a corner hit Richard Mottram in the chest which he seemed to know little about but managed to clear the ball and within a coupe of passes Howard found himself through on goal but again he fired straight at Banks from close range. The half appeared to be heading for a goalless conclusion until Bridge won a free kick on the edge of the box. Alex Porter nonchalantly lifted the ball over the wall past a static Ritchie Mottram.
The start of the second half saw Bridge enjoy their best spell of the game. First Graeme Mitchell lobbed the ball over Mottram but also the bar and then a Bridge won a dubious penalty.
Porter blasted it into the roof of the net. Barely a few minutes had passed and Bridge wrapped up the points. The ball was worked across the edge of the penalty area to the unmarked Matt Mahoney who unleashed a fearsome drive that found the far corner giving Mottram no chance. Jimmy McCarthy entered the play and on one occasion set off on a run down the right that saw him dribble passed a number of players before shooting goalwards. Banks could only parry the shot but fortunately for him a Bridge defender was on hand to hook the ball off the line. Town then managed to clear a shot off the line with Mottram well beaten.
The ball immediately broke away and Town again found Howard running through on goal. As he approached the keeper he checked and hesitated before once again firing straight at Banks.
Howard’s pace again was the undoing of the Bridge defence but as he was lining up to shoot he was brought down from behind by McAllister who was red carded. The ref pointed to the penalty spot only to change his mind and award a free kick on te edge of the area which was easily saved by Banks.
Pictures show Phil Howard missing one of his golden opportunities and Chris Fitzsimmons welcoming back Town old boy Phil Mitchell.
Town: Mottram, Holme, Fitzsimmons, Bowes, Keilthy, Daniels, Hadland, Moore, Dutton, Howard, Gahgan. Subs A Thomas, McCarthy, F Smith
