WARRINGTON Town scored an injury-time equaliser to earn a draw in a thrilling derby with Warrington Rylands.
Despite having to name midfielder Steven Irwin in goal due to injuries and loan recalls, the visitors looked on course for victory until James Neild turned Mitch Duggan’s cross into his own net.
Two first-half goals in as many minutes from leading scorer Callum Dolan – the first a penalty – had put Blues into a deserved half-time lead.
Town improved after the break and pulled a goal back through Stefan Mols, but Kane Drummond quickly restored the visitors’ two-goal lead.
Luke Duffy lashed home to pull a goal back and after Bohan Dixon had been sent off, Town went up the other end to get themselves out of jail.
> What Mark Beesley has said about Town's derby fightback
> Why Rylands were forced to play a midfielder in goal during derby match
> Click here to re-live the action as it happened
Read sports reporter Matt Turner's take on proceedings below
IF this was our two leading football teams’ chance to showcase themselves to the wider Warrington public, they certainly did just that.
Goals galore, a red card, a fightback that finished in an injury-time equaliser - a real game of two halves and all in front of more than 1,500 fervent supporters inside Cantilever Park.
For any neutrals in the crowd, it had everything they could have possibly asked for.
Those turning up for entertainment certainly got their money’s worth and while both sides will take something from the game, there will be differing levels of satisfaction in the two camps.
On the face of it, Warrington Town will be delighted to take a point having been 2-0 down at half time and 3-1 down inside the final 10 minutes.
When the context of Rylands being without a recognised goalkeeper is added, however, they will have to see this as a huge opportunity missed.
The news threatened to turn what was set up for a memorable occasion into somewhat of a farce but the Gorsey Lane men must take huge credit for how they handled the situation on the field.
For much of the game, Town did not test midfielder Steve Irwin – forced to don the gloves with regular custodian Sam Tickle recalled by parent club Wigan Athletic late in the day and with deputy Will Appleyard injured – anywhere near enough.
Their attacking play, particularly in the first half, was slow and ponderous but some of the credit for that has to go to a snappy, incisive Rylands side.
The first 45 minutes saw them swarm all over their hosts, belying their obvious disadvantage with some vibrant attacking play.
Callum Dolan and Kane Drummond caused endless problems, Kelly N’Mai was also busy while Ryan Brooke often dropped off the front into pockets of space to release the latter three to soar forward like the Red Arrows.
Despite not really testing Tony Thompson in the Town goal, they would have considered themselves unfortunate to go into the break level until Dolan’s quickfire double.
After converting a penalty following Tom Hannigan’s clumsy tackle on Drummond, the division’s top scorer scorched through a passive Town defence to double the lead moments later.
Rylands were all set up to skip back across the river with a famous victory and if Town were to avoid a severe embarrassment, they had to do something.
Aided by some fruitful substitutions, they did just that.
Mitch Duggan and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts added steel and penetration down the right-hand side and immediately, they forced their visitors back.
Still though, Irwin went relatively untested – despite some threatening crosses being put on his head, he was well protected by his defenders until Stefan Mols finally broke through.
Just as Town thought they had a foothold, though, Drummond snatched it away with the kind of crisp finish that has become his hallmark.
It was perhaps the only real time Rylands got close to the Town goal after the break, but it served as a reminder of the threat they still posed.
That goal seemed to drain the life from Town and while they still forced the issue – as they had to do – Rylands were sat comfortably behind their jab.
Even when Luke Duffy lashed home from arguably the one time they shot from distance to try and test Irwin, it looked to be too little, too late.
When Bohan Dixon was dismissed for a rash challenge on Niah Payne, their chances looked finished until they took advantage of some naïve play in the Rylands rearguard.
They were able to get the ball up the field and into position for Duggan to fire across goal, with James Neild unfortunate enough to turn the ball into his own net.
The ground erupted perhaps more in relief than celebration. The vast majority inside the place had seen their team get out of jail.
Town deserve credit for clawing their way back to avoid defeat, but issues that have plagued them all season were exposed on the big stage here.
For Rylands, it has to be said they have claimed the moral victory if not an actual one.
In short, a game of two halves and on balance, probably a fair result that whets the appetite for January 14, when the two sides will run it back at Gorsey Lane.
Town: Thompson, Seary (Duggan), White, Hannigan, Gumbs, Harris, Mols, Williams (Buckley-Ricketts), Amis, Dixon, Howard (Duffy). Subs not used: Walker, McDonald
Rylands: Irwin, Neild, Hunt, Egerton, Mustoe, McCourt, Dolan, Furman, Brooke, N'Mai (Payne), Drummond. Subs not used: Hayde, Morris, Langley
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here