Gallant Town bow out of cup

A somewhat threadbare looking Town missing several regulars battled bravely on a cold, wet and windy evening in West Lancashire eventually losing out 3-2 to a heartbreaking goal deep in stoppage time at AFC Fylde in the President’s Cup last night.
Warrington started very brightly and had an early goal chalked off when Tony Evans was adjudged to be offside. Richie Mottram was soon called into action when a long-range shot was palmed around the post. The game ebbed and flowed as both sides sought to play attacking football with Gahgan shooting just wide and Matty Kay forcing a save from Mottram following a looping header.
The breakthrough for Fylde came on twenty eight minutes and it came from no apparent danger. Fylde collected the ball half way inside our half and pushed forward for Kay to unleash a thirty plus yard shot that skidded off the turf and through the grip of Mottram to the bottom corner. Fylde almost doubled their lead when a back pass was skewed straight to Danny Penswick who immediately shot only to see Mottram slide back across goal and clear with his legs. Town drew level in slightly controversial circumstances. A through ball found Jimmy McCarthy with the linesman’s flag immediately being raised. The ref waved play on and only Jimmy reacted and duly shot past David Stephenson. Within a minute the same tactic almost paid dividends but Tony Evans blasted over the bar.
Town started the second half in fine form and dominated much of the play. Dave Roberts fired a long range effort wide before Chris Ghagan collected the ball wide left, cut in and fired past Stephenson to the far corner to give Warrington a deserved lead. The fact Town then failed to kill the game ultimately proved their undoing, such was their dominance for this period of play.
Warrington attacked from both flanks and Lee Smith shot narrowly wide. Town continued to push and when a ball was worked from the left wing across goal is was left by Gahgan and McCarthy to fall neatly to Dave Roberts but his shot was saved. Inevitably Town paid for wasted chances and Fylde drew level when the ball was crossed from the right and tapped in at the far post by Mark Wane. Tony Evans forced another save from Stephenson before Darren Kinsey fired a thunderous free kick that clipped the top of the bar, having been adjudged to have received a touch from the Fylde No. 1. With extra time looming Town paid the ultimate penalty in conceding almost four minutes into injury time.
A curling cross/shot headed for the far post and the faintest of touches saw Wane just get a flick and in it went. Less than ten seconds passed following the restart before the final whistle went. A disappointing result this was but the performance was anything but. A credit to both sides in difficult conditions.
Town must look to next Tuesday’s visit by Bootle in the Liverpool Cup for their last chance of cup silverware this season.
Pictures show goal scorer Jimmy McCarthy and skipper for the night O’Donnell winning a header.
Town: Mottram, Smith, Kinsey, Hardwick, Grogan, Roberts, Hadland, O’Donnell, Evans, McCarthy, Gahgan. Sub Brown