WARRINGTON Town will now be able to focus all their energy on promotion out of the Evo-Stik Division One North after they crashed out of the Doodson Cup’s second round in Urmston.

Town’s leap into the promotion places has come off the back of six-match unbeaten streak in the league, but they could not reproduce this form in their last remaining cup competition and instead threw away a two-goal lead to exit in frustrating fashion.

The defeat places even greater emphasis on their promotion push in the second half of the season, a push that starts immediately as Town prepare to face two of their main play-off rivals in consecutive games over the festive period.

The back-to-back six pointers begin with the visit of sixth-place New Mills on Saturday, kick off 3pm, before they travel to fourth place Trafford on Boxing Day, kick off 3pm.

Trafford 3 Warrington 2
NOT even the strong side named by manager Shaun Reid could prevent Town suffering a demoralising reverse.

After a tense first half in which Trafford striker Michael Oates and Town front man Ash Ruane both missed chances to take the lead, Town made the breakthrough just before the hour mark when Phil Mooney swivelled to shoot beyond home keeper Tom Read.

The Yellows thought they had the game in the bag six minutes later, Townson’s pass giving Ruane the chance to double their lead with a powerful strike.

But Trafford had a sting in their tail, capitalising on some pantomime defending to score a match-winning treble in the last 16 minutes through Shelton Payne, Martyn Andrews and Nia Bayunu to end Town’s cup involvement for another year.

Town: Robertson, Davies, Mitter, Dogan, Flynn, McCarten (West, 85), A Kilheeney, Mooney (Miles, 65), Ruane, C Kilheeney (Townson, 46), Doran.