Sometimes a point seems to be unfair as a reward

Woodley Sports 1

A POINT for Warrington Town against North West Counties Soccer League Division One title contenders Woodley Sports was scant reward for their spirited endeavours in a pulsating encounter at Cantilever Park.

Town more than matched the quality of their opponents on Saturday. They exerted sustained pressure on the visitors' defence and should have scored more than the one goal they managed.

But Woodley goalkeeper Liam Higginbottom was in defiant mood, pulling off the first of several notable saves on 19 minutes when he blocked a goal bound low drive by Mike Heverin.

Moments later he leapt to tip over a rising drive from the edge of the penalty box by Stuart Harkness.

Heverin, who posed a constant threat to the Woodley rearguard with his probing runs, earned a penalty for Town in the 35th minute after being tripped by Lee Bromley.

He hammered in the resultant spot kick to net his sixth goal in six games.

Heverin's strike partner Chris Moores then squandered a simple chance inside the penalty box, delaying his shot for too long with only Higginbottom to beat.

Woodley, who have amassed nearly 100 league goals this season, twice went close to equalising on the stroke of half-time.

A powerful long range free kick by Simon Hackney was deflected behind off a Town defender before Mike Norton blazed the ball over the bar when left unmarked.

Norton made amends on the hour mark, firing home a close range shot after benefiting from a rebound, and two minutes later he cleared a Heverin header off his own goal line.

The tempo of the match continued to be frenetic with both sides battling for a winning goal.

Higginbottom impressed again midway through the second half, brilliantly turning round the post another Heverin header.

Town goalkeeper Terry O'Hanlon was later equally alert when he saved a fierce long range drive by Hackney.

Team: Terry O'Hanlon, Matty Farrell, Lee Smith, Ryan Barnhill, Lee Riley, Gary Jones, Dave Tickle, Steve Latham, Mike Heverin, Chris Moores, (Chris Bermningham, 75mins), Stuart Harkness (Phil Mitchell, 69mins). Sub not used: Mark Nulty.

Warrington visit Curzon Ashton on Saturday, kick-off 3pm, and then travel to Bacup Borough on Wednesday, kick-off 7.45pm.