Warrington Town 4
Squires Gate 2
LIFE is looking rosy at Warrington Town.
The Cantilever Park boys have made a stunning start to the season and in Graeme Mitchell they have the sort of player they were crying out for in the previous campaign.
The striker has been banging in goals for fun since joining the club from St. Helens Town in the close season but he excelled himself on Tuesday.
He dispatched two penalties and was also on target with a classy header and a thunderous drive as Town recovered from a 2-0 deficit in their first North West Counties Soccer League Division One home game of the season.
Town's victory was made all the more impressive by the fact that they had to make do without the suspended Lee Webster and Mark Ashton. Fellow defender Paul Davis was also missing through injury.
Team: Neil McCormack, Lee Riley, Andy Tague, Paul Hives, Steve Latham, Chris Bermingham, Terry Nestor, Andy Moore, Dave Tickle, Phil Mitchell, Graeme Mitchell. Subs used: Tommy Baker, Jamie Cavanagh.
Dave Lawrenson
Eccles Hill 1
Warrington Town 2
THE Mitchell brothers made telling contributions as Warrington Town Football Club booked their place in the next round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
Phil and Graeme Mitchell were both on target during a six-minute spell midway through the first half of the extra preliminary round tie.
Phil, with his probing runs and tireless running, posed a constant threat to Eccles Hill. He fired in a 20-yard shot on the half volley to put Town in front after receiving a superbly lofted through ball from his brother.
It was then the turn of Graeme to find the net. He side-footed home a penalty after being brought down inside the box.
Phil later experienced a frustrating time in front of goal. He broke clear of the Bradford side's rearguard on four occasions but failed to add to his tally.
He suffered particular anguish in the closing stages when, following a 50-yard run with the ball, Eccles goalkeeper Craig Bates excelled in diverting behind his goalbound shot with an outstretched leg.
Defender Lee Riley, Town's new signing from Prescot Cables, had earlier cursed the woodwork for denying him a debut goal.
His bullet-like header thundered off the bar following a corner by man of the match Chris Bermingham.
Town goalkeeper Neil McCormack also shone. A foot injury to Terry O'Hanlon had paved the way for him to make his first appearance between the sticks for 18 months and he did not disappoint.
However, he was beaten in the dying moments by a close range shot from Paul Gelder.
Team: Neil McCormack, Andy Tague, Paul Hives, Paul Davies, Lee Webster, Steve Latham, Dave Tickle, Chris Bermingham, Phil Mitchell, Graeme Mitchell, Andy Moore. Subs used: Lee Riley, Mark Ashton, Tommy Baker.
Colin Serjent
Town play Yorkshire Amateurs at home on Saturday in an FA Cup preliminary round before facing Stone Dominoes in the league on Tuesday. The games kick-off at 3pm and 7.45pm respectively.
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