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Warrington Town 1 FC Halifax Town 1: Shaymen's title hopes diminish
TOWN'S Unibond One North title hopes suffered a major setback as they were unable to finish off strugglers Warrington.
And by the end, the Shaymen were probably happy to escape from Cantilever Park with a point as the home side almost snatched victory.
It was a stuttering display from Halifax who, before their enforced break the previous weekend because of the weather, had looked like they were building a head of steam.
They looked extremely wobbly at the back, especially in the first half, had little width despite playing with wing backs and posed little real threat in attack.
It was a recipe for disaster and they will have to regroup quickly as they face a tough trip to Colwyn Bay, who have not given up hopes of reaching the play-offs, next weekend.
Warrington could hardly have asked for a better start as they opened the scoring from their first real attack in the 11th minute.
Chris Gahgan's free kick could have been cleared by either Danny Meadowcroft or Tony Barras, but neither managed to and the ball reached Anthony Kielty.
He flicked it back across goal where Phil Howard was initially denied but forced home from close range at the second attempt.
Town enjoyed plenty of possession as they looked for a way back into the game, but crosses from Scott Phelan and Ritchie Sutton came to nothing before they carved out their first opening on 19 minutes.
Paul Collins did well on the left before picking out Ashley Stott whose right-foot effort from the edge of the area was tipped over by Richard Mottram.
And when the resulting corner was only cleared as far as Barras he sent a half-volley high over the bar.
Having survived that scare, Warrington could have doubled their advantage a couple of minutes later from another free kick.
This time the ball was whipped in by Phil Hadland and half cleared to Michael O'Donnell. Jon Kennedy saved his shot then reacted superbly to deny Jimmy McCarthy who tried to force home the rebound.
Home keeper Mottram raced from his area to deny Stott as he looked to get on the end of a Paul Evans through ball and Evans tried his luck himself soon after forcing the keeper to save to his right.
Town turned up the heat as half time approached with Meadowcroft glancing a header from an Evans free kick across the face of goal and wide.
Then, in the third minute of stoppage time, they finally levelled when Barras had a header from an Evans corner blocked and Stott was on hand to force home the rebound.
Having gained the psychological advantage, the Shaymen should have gone on to take the game and they created opportunities at the start of the second period.
But Junior Brown headed over an Evans free kick within a couple of minutes of the restart and Tom Baker saw a curling 35-yard effort come back off the post soon after.
David Brown was unable to convert a half chance just before the hour mark with Baker also denied and Junior Brown heading over again.
And, as the chances - and half chances - came and went - the home side's belief in themselves started to grow. Thomas Hardwick headed wide from a corner before McCarthy had an effort blocked for a corner by Kennedy.
Meadowcroft headed over at the other end and Junior Brown's through ball was too strong for his namesake David.
But it was the home side who looked most likely to take the points.
There was a real scare with seven minutes remaining when Kennedy came for a long ball down field and failed to collect.
The ball landed at Howard's feet and he lifted it back towards the goal only to see it come back off the bar. It went back to the striker who was unable to get any power on his second shot and Meadowcroft was able to clear off the line.
Three minutes later Gahgan got free down the wing and crossed for the unmarked Howard whose volley on the turn flew high over the top.
A McCarthy free kick struck teammate Howard before Howard backed himself to beat Meadowcroft for pace in the final minute.
The players clashed and Howard fell to the ground. Meadowcroft escaped with a yellow card and Warrington were unable to make anything of the free kick.
Click here to see the Unibond Division One North table on our Halifax Town fixtures and results page
MATCH FACTS
Warrington Town: Mottram, Holme (Sinker 80), Hardwick, Bowes, Kielty, Moore, Hadland, O'Donnell, Howard, McCarthy, Gahgan. Subs (not used): Aley, Hedges, Riley.
Booked: Holme (foul 33), O'Donnell (foul 45)
Sent-off: None
Goals: Howard 11,
FC Halifax Town: Kennedy, Coo (Brown 46), Collins, Barras, Meadowcroft, Sutton, Baker (Allen 84), Evans, Phelan, Stott (Adams 77), Brown. Subs (not used): Senior, Barnes.
Booked: Meadowcroft (foul 90)
Sent-off: None
Goals: Stott 45
Attendance: 452
Referee: B McGill
STAR SHAYMAN
Boss Jim Vince was concerned that the break between games might make Town's players too eager to please.
For the majority of Saturday's game at Cantilever Park it had the opposite effect.
Few did anything to enhance their reputations on a disappointing afternoon.
Ashley Stott took his goal wall to get the Shaymen back into the game but he also missed with a header early in the second half when he could have edged Town in front.
Tom Baker skied a ball over the bar in the first half but was denied by the woodwork in the second and eventually replaced.
Paul Evans played some great balls forward and delivered some fine free kicks and corners which no one could capitalise on.
But on occasion was caught in possession as his teammates failed to warn him of impending danger.
Those three were just about the pick of an ordinary bunch on a say when few things went right and the title hopes were severely dented.
Stott takes the three points on offer in our season-long competition with Baker claiming two and Evans one.
PLAYER POINTS
Junior Brown 29, Tom Baker 27, Ashley Stott 19, Scott Phelan 17, Jonathan Smith 16, Paul Gedman 11, Colin Daniel 10, Peter Moore 10, Jon Kennedy 9, Nigel Jemson 9, Cavell Coo 7, Damien Allen 7, Lincoln Adams 6, Adam Morning 4, Paul Collins 4, Steve Payne 3, Neil Ross 3, Ritchie Sutton 2, Paul Evans 2, Craig Smith 2, Justin Walker 2, Luke Hinsley 2, Craig Ellison 2, Danny Ellis 1, Phil Senior 1, Michael Barnes 1.
YOU SAY
Too many players playing as individuals rather than as a team. We need a big centre forward and definately a competent keeper - angry andy
That's the fifth time we've failed to beat a bottom 2 team. Try attacking, jim & keep ashley on - Realistic town fan.
Utter dross against a poor team. Selection is a joke as are the substitutions. Please replace kennedy now - Town fan
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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