WARRINGTON Town will go into their big night in the FA Cup against Exeter City on the back of a defeat.

Former Yellows striker Ciaran Kilheeney scored a goal at both ends as Warrington went down 3-1 at Droylsden.

Kilheeney showed the poacher’s instinct that Shaun Reid’s men have often lacked this season in putting the hosts ahead after just six minutes and they doubled the lead before the break.

An own goal with the last kick of the first half gave Warrington hope, and they chucked everything at Droylsden in a much-improved second half performance, only for the result to be put beyond doubt 10 minutes from time by Ben Deegan.

In what was their first league match since a 1-1 draw against Burscough on October 7, Warrington should have took the lead inside three minutes, when striker Steve Foster found himself through on goal. A sloppy touch meant the ball got away from him, but he still managed to get a shot away which was well saved by Russ Saunders.

Saunders was to provide the basis of a solid first half display by the hosts, sweeping up well at the back and he denied Town several times in the second half.

As it was, Droylsden hit the front early on, Kilheeney controlling a mis-hit shot and then firing past Karl Wills for 1-0.

Their lead was doubled on 21 minutes, when left-back Ben Hampson headed home off Kev Leadbetter’s corner and it looked like it might be a long afternoon for Warrington, who looked like a side that very much had their eye on Friday’s highly-anticipated FA Cup tie against Exeter.

It was nearly three minutes later when Andy Morning saw his rasping shot tipped over.

Town were handed an unlikely lifeline in stoppage time, as David Mannix’s free-kick was diverted over his own goalkeeper by Kilheeney, and for large parts of the second half, it looked like the visitors would take advantage.

Substitute Ash Ruane had the ball in the back of the net inside three minutes of the restart, only to be ruled offside, and he then had a header cleared off the line.

Scott Metcalfe and Nathan Burke both went close from the edge of the box, and Droylsden were on the back foot.

Ben Wharton then weaved his way in to the box and was denied by Saunders, before the best chance fell to Phil Davies. The right-back cut inside to create a shooting opportunity following a counter attack involving Burke and Metcalfe, but hit the ball over the bar.

Any hope of a result for Town was diminished with 10 minutes left, Deegan heading home from the rebound after seeing his initial shot saved by Wills.

Attention now turns to a historic occasion on Friday, the FA Cup First Round Proper clash with League Two side Exeter City for which tickets go on general sale at Cantilever Park from noon today.

Droylsden: Saunders, Brown, Hampson (Holden), Frost, Dogan, Wright (Burke), Myler, Leadbetter, Deegan, Kilheeney, Morning (Moke). Unused subs: McNamara, McLoughlin.

Warrington: Wills, Davies, Corrigan, Mannix, McCarten, Hardwick, Booth (Gahgan), Burke, Wharton, Foster (Ruane), Metcalfe (Durnin). Unused subs: Rogers, Robinson.