Warrington Town 0 Stockport County 1

WARRINGTON Town failed to repeat their FA Cup heroics as they were beaten 1-0 by Stockport County in the Cheshire Senior Cup.

Manager Shaun Reid made several changes from Friday’s famous victory over Exeter, and eventually fell to a deflected second half shot which earned the Conference North side the win.

The game got off to a slow start, and it was 17 minutes until the first chance of note, Stockport midfielder Richie Baker heading straight at stand-in goalkeeper Robbie Johnson.

Johnson, deputising for regular number one Karl Wills, was in fine form throughout, and the scoreline could have been greater if not for his interventions after the break.

He made another save on 27 minutes, denying Andy Owens on the half volley one-on-one.

Nathan Woolfe dragged wide and then Lee Stevenson saw his shot comfortably saved low to Johnson’s left.

Town struggled to make in-roads at the other end, despite the introduction of Ben Wharton, who replaced Steve Foster midway through the first half.

The home side’s best opportunity fell to midfielder Joe Colbeck in the middle of the second half. Louis Corrigan’s raking cross field ball was knocked back inside well by Chris Gahgan, and Colbeck somehow managed to screw wide from the centre of the goal.

Five minutes later, Stockport got the game breaking goal. Good work by Chris Churchman pushed County forward, and his ball found Stevenson, who saw his left footed drive deflected past the unfortunate Johnson.

With quarter of an hour still to play, Warrington never really looked like getting an equaliser, and they should have been put out of their misery on 80 minutes, when Baker dragged his shot wide after Johnson had once again denied Stevenson.

A block by defender Glen Belezika denied Corrigan at the back post after Conor Roberts’ cross found its way through the middle, before a double stop from Johnson at the other end.

Stockport progress to face Alsager in the next round, while attention for Warrington returns to the league, and the trip to Kendal on Saturday.

Warrington: Johnson, Davies, Rogers (Collins), Corrigan, McCarten, Hardwick, Gahgan (Ruane), Foster (Wharton), Roberts, Burke. Unused subs: Durnin, Booth.

Stockport: Ormson, Belezika, Fagbola, Moses, Lees, O’Halloran, Baker, Lofthouse (Churchman), Owens, Stevenson, Woolfe (Sharp). Unused subs: Lazenbury, Russell, Hancock.