ROUGH JUSTICE (From Warrington Guardian)

ROUGH JUSTICE

Darwen 1

Warrington Town 1

WARRINGTON can feel aggrieved at the manner in which they saw victory snatched from them in an explosive finish to the game at Darwen on Tuesday.

The referee inexplicably added seven minutes of stoppage time to a half which had few hold-ups, enabling Darwen the opportunity to draw level in equally controversial fashion.

With 95 minutes on the clock Steve Wilkes drove in an equaliser after a free kick by Dave Barnes had rebounded to him off the bar.

Despite the linesman signalling Paul Corly off side, for standing on the goal line, the referee overturned his decision and awarded a goal, ruling that the striker was not interfering with play.

It was a sickening blow for Town and leaves them anxiously awaiting the results of the other leading promotion contenders in the North Western Trains League second division, before they complete their programme at Maghull a week on Saturday.

Although missing two key players, defensive colossus Elfyn Edwards, who was ably replaced by outstanding Alan Blair, and midfield supremo Terry Nestor, Warrington should have made the points safe before the late drama after carving out a host of chances.

But home 'keeper Lee Purvis proved defiant, most notably when superbly turning behind fierce long range drives by Neil Holden and substitute Paul Anderton.

They were further frustrated after Kevin Tyrrell had a header cleared off the line by defender Andy Bright.

Winger Paul Berry, in inspired form with his marauding runs and quality crossing, then set Damien Whitehead free but his shot was parried by Purvis and saw his follow up effort diverted past a post by Neil Cordingley.

Whitehead enjoyed better fortune after 84 minutes, steering in a penalty, awarded when Berry had been tripped by Wilkes.

He now needs to score a hat-trick at Maghull to equal the highest ever total attained by a player in the league, held by Jimmy Clarke of Bacup in 1989/90, with 54 goals to his name.

Town: Steriopolus, Tague, Fenton (Anderton 35mins); Cartledge, Blair, Berry, Tickle, Holden, Tyrrell, Whitehead, Callaghan. Subs not used: Bold, Jones.

Colin Serjent

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.