THE crossbar denied Scott Metcalfe a hat-trick and Warrington Town a victory as they were held by Salford City on Tuesday night.

The Yellows showed their credentials, despite their lowly league position, and were unfortunate not to come away with the three points after initially coming from a goal down to lead.

“My players were outstanding,” said manager Shaun Reid.

“Salford are the benchmark for the league, with the biggest squad, but we were the better team.”

New strikers Lee Gaskell and Steven Tames, who was particularly impressive, led from the front but it was top scorer Metcalfe who bagged both goals against his former club.

“I was more than pleased with what I saw from the two new boys,” said Reid.

“Metcalfe was superb and denied by the woodwork, while Nathan Burke, who was outstanding, also had a great chance but a defender got on the line and chested the ball away.”

Salford took the lead on nine minutes. Tricky winger Sam Madeley turned Matt Doughty and Lewis Field inside out.

Town’s reply came when Tames raced away before going down in a hefty challenge. The loose ball reached Metcalfe, who drilled home from the edge of the box.

A deserved second goal for Town came on 43 minutes when Metcalfe beat the offside trap to race on to David Mannix’s through ball.

But the lead lasted two minutes. Tentative defending allowed Salford in behind and Jason Rother coolly stood up keeper Karl Wills, passing it square for Martyn Andrews to fire into the empty net.

Town: Wills, Field, Hardwick, Mannix, McCarten, Robinson, Doughty, Burke, Tames (Foster), Gaskell (Roberts), Metcalfe (Ruane). Unused subs: Davies, Corrigan.