Padiham...0

Warrington Town...2

A VICTORY for Warrington at Daisy Hill tonight, Thursday, would leave the side requiring only three points from their remaining three games to win back a place in the first division of the North West Counties League.

Their cause was helped after emerging triumphant from Padiham on Tuesday when they took over the leadership of the second division. It is the first time they have headed a division since clinching promotion from the North West Counties League to the Northern Premier League in 1989.

The win was also notable in that it avenged one of the few home defeats they suffered in the league this season.

In the first of five consecutive away games to conclude their campaign, Town received an early boost at Padiham when Chris Moores, their four-goal hero against Castleton on Saturday, put them in front after only five minutes with a superbly executed low drive on the turn from 20 yards into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.

But Warrington were indebted to keeper Neil McCormack for preserving that lead midway through the first half when he expertly tipped a fierce 25-yard free kick by Shaun Kendall on to the bar with Darren Forrest heading the rebound wide.

In the closing stages of the game, and after Mike Heverin had skewed a shot narrowly wide, Robbie Preidt directed in a towering header after meeting a corner by Moore.

Padiham suffered further before the end when Hartley was sent off after he handled a goal bound effort by Heverin outside his box.

Town: McCormack, Moore, Cartledge, Callaghan (Blair 86mins), Pick (Trewitt 89mins), Preidt, Tague, Tickle, Heverin, Moores (Hennessey: 71), Hives.

COLIN SERJENT