Report: Leek Town 3-1 Warrington Town

A suspected broken ankle for striker Kallan Murphy added to Warrington Town’s woe as they were beaten 3-1 at Leek Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

Murphy was taken to hospital after a tough challenge in the box midway through the first half, that left the Yellows without a recognised forward, with last week’s matchwinner Enock Lusiama not included in the matchday squad due to injury.

Injuries had meant the Yellows could only name four substitutes, including goalkeeper Harry Roper, and they also lost Matty Waters to a knock in the first half.

They had already gone behind prior to their increased injury woe, Ollie Shenton finding space in the box to curl home an opener inside two minutes.

And despite the Yellows starting the second half in much better shape than they had shown in the first, they fell 2-0 behind when Hayden Campbell fired home a loose ball in the box after Liam Isherwood had saved well from point-blank range to deny Julius Ndene.

The hosts, who had forced a couple of first half saves out of Isherwood, weren’t as effective after the break as the Yellows started to move the ball around a bit more.

They gave themselves a lifeline on 64 minutes, Bohan Dixon’s low ball across the box diverted home by Dontai Gabidon for 2-1.

But within five minutes, Leek had restored their two goal advantage. Alex Hurst pounced on a loose ball in midfield, drove forward and fired home left-footed from the edge of the box.

Although the Yellows did create a couple of chances in the final quarter – Liam Brazier shooting straight at the ‘keeper when clean through and Troy Bourne having a header cleared off the line – Leek could have added to their lead when Connor Heath’s rising shot struck the crossbar.

With Murphy, Waters and Matty Tweedley joining Lusiama, James Melhado, Scott Butler, Evan Gumbs, Josh Amis and Elliot Morris on the sidelines, Paul Carden will be desperate to add reinforcements ahead of a critical home FA Cup tie with Bamber Bridge on Saturday.

Leek Town: Parke, Buckley, Curl, Ndene, Edwards (Fenton), Reeves, Hurst (Heywood), Porter (Hodkin), Russ (Heath), Shenton, Campbell (Weir).

Warrington Town: Isherwood, Bennett, Doyle, Tweedley (Daly), Bourne, Lloyd, Gabidon, Morgan, Murphy (Brazier), Harris, Waters (Dixon). Unused sub: Roper.

Post-match reaction