Warrington Town complete league double over leaders Curzon Ashton (From Warrington Guardian)

Warrington Town complete league double over leaders Curzon Ashton

11:36am Monday 7th December 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Curzon Ashton 1 Warrington Town 2

Town travelled to leaders Curzon Ashton last week, looking to complete a league double against a side that have only lost twice all season and picked up the November team-of-the-month award.

Town started brightly and were ahead inside of two minutes when striker Tony Evans broke through the home sides offside trap only to see his shot saved by Curzon's Spanish goalkeeper, Javer Sanchez.

Thankfully for Town the ball fell to the on-rushing Chris Gahgan, who finished easily at the second attempt to the delight of the large travelling support.

Curzon immediately looked to get back into the game and soon after striker Andrew Lundy headed high over Richie Mottram's cross bar.

The Yellows suffered an early set-back when full-back Mike Grogan was forced to leave the field, following a terrible challenge from former Town midfielder Dean Canning.

This seemed to disrupt Towns pattern of play and it was the home side who went close soon after when striking duo, Lundy and Norton, overran a Canning cross to the relief of the away team.

It wasn't long before the home side finally got an equalising goal, Canning heading home a cross beyond Mottram before the break.

Both sides came out for the second half looking for a winning goal, and it was the home side who generally had the best of the play.

Indeed, it was Ashton were first to go close but were denied by an excellent challenge by centre back Levi Kennedy, who prevented Norton from pulling the trigger.

The home side went close again shortly afterwards, Norton sliding in and hitting the side-netting from a yard.

The game opened up as the play spread out, Mick O'Donnell shooting from distance and Kennedy once more denying Norton with an excellent block.

Town were denied what appeared to be a stonewall penalty when Tom Hardwick's hooked cross struck the hand of defender David Birch in the box, only for referee Mr Buxton to wave away Town's claims.

Dave Roberts was next to go close for Town, who was denied at the far post after an excellent cross by Jimmy McCarthy.

The game was turned on it’s head within a minute late in the game, when Micky Norton’s effort was ruled out by the assistant referee.

The resultant free kick then saw Town rush up to the other end and win a penalty, when Dave Roberts' cross was handled by defender Adam Jones and Chris Gahgan stepped up to blast home his 21st goal of the season.

Gahgan went close to a hat trick deep into the four minutes of injury time, his curling effort from outside of the box forcing a fantastic flying save from Sanchez.

Warrington now face a home tie against Bootle in the second round of the Liverpool Cup, to be played Tuesday 8 December at 7.45pm.

Town: Mottram, Grogan (Dacey, 30), Kinsey, Hardwick, Kennedy, Roberts (Taylor, 86), Hadland, O'Donnell, Evans (Chetcuti, 75), McCarthy, Gahgan, Sub not used: Brown

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)