Warrington Town 4 New Mills 1

WARRINGTON Town produced arguably their best performance of 2013 to run out comfortable winners against fellow promotion chasers New Mills.

Manager Shaun Reid re-introduced Lee Parle and Phil Mooney into the starting line up in place of Phil Davies and John Newby, who dropped to the substitutes bench. Unlike in Saturday's game at Skelmersdale both teams started the game off quickly, looking to get on the front foot and take the lead.

New Mills midfielder Carlos Meakin headed over early on before Warrington's Ciaran Kilheeney saw his weak lob saved by New Mills keeper David Stephenson.

It was Kilheeney who was first to go close for Town, reaching a throughball beyond Stephenson only to see his lob well cleared by New Mills midfielder Luke Horrocks.

After this scare the visitors took control of the game, firstly striker Chris Luby's shot was cleared off the line by Town defender James McCarten, before his colleague Daniel Douglas-Pringle saw his follow-up blocked by Town winger Andy Fowler.

As so often happens, having soaked up so much pressure Town hit New Mills with a sucker punch by taking the lead with a rare chance.

Ash Ruane picked up a knock down from Kilheeney before planting a fierce low drive past Stephenson and into the far corner of the net.

After gaining the lead Town grew in confidence and eight minutes later went further ahead, a ball into the box aimed for Kilheeney was scrambled away but only as far as Mooney, who swept home.

The hosts were in control and started the second half as they had finished the first, winger Andy Fowler being played through only to shoot too close to Stephenson.

New Mills forced a fine save from Town keeper Andy Robertson on a rare foray forward, but their chances were few and far between.

With 15 minutres left Town made the game safe, a ball into the box falling into the path of substitute John Newby, who scored his first goal for the club.

Two minutes later they had extended their lead to four, Kilheeney rounding Stephenson and slotting home despite a defender being on the line.

The last significant action of the game saw a poor back pass from Town captain Peter Dogan latched onto by Luby, only to be brought down by Robertson as he attmepted to round Town's rearguard.

Referee Mr Mycock produced a red card and with all three subs used, full back Nat Kerr went between the sticks but he was unable to keep out Fitzpatrick's penalty to make it 4-1.

Town: Robertson, Kerr, Doran, Mannix (West, 78), McCarten, Dogan (c), Ruane (Miles, 78), Parle, Kilheeney, Mooney, Fowler(Newby, 67).