Report: Warrington Town 1-2 Farsley Celtic

An injury-time strike from Ben Atkinson ended Warrington Town’s unbeaten home start to the season as Farsley Celtic came from behind to win 2-1.

For large parts of the game it looked like the Yellows would make it a double winning Bank Holiday weekend after they took the lead early on through Saturday’s match-winner Mikey O’Neill.

But Cole Hyde struck an equaliser midway through the second half and then substitute Atkinson’s low shot from the edge of the box squirmed through the grasp of Dan Atherton to nab the three points.

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The Yellows started with the same team that played for large parts of Saturday’s win over Kidderminster, with Andy White and Tom Hannigan coming in to the starting line-up having been introduced in the first half against Harriers for the injured Peter Clarke and Ollie Southern.

Atherton was called in to early action, a strong left wrist denying the lively DJ Sturridge

It was the Yellows who took the lead after five minutes, Connor Woods cross cushioned down by Gez Sithole for O’Neill arriving late, and he fired through the ‘keeper for 1-0.

Sturridge had another chance soon after, this time attempting to round Atherton, though the goalkeeper forced him wide enough to snuff out the chance.

There were calls for a penalty midway through the first half in rather innocuous circumstances, as Rudy Misambo headed the ball right up in to the air and then as he looked to cushion a header back to his ‘keeper, the ball appeared to strike his arm in the box. The officials looked at each other but didn’t give anything.

The other first half chances fell for the home side, Woods shooting just wide and then a last ditch tackle by Conor Branson denied Sithole in the goalmouth.

The Yellows continued to control things at the start of the second half, Murphy Bennett scampering down the right and pulling back for Matt Grivosti, who couldn’t get enough power on his shot to trouble Darryl Ombang.

But then the visitors struck their first blow on 65 minutes, Sam Fielding playing the ball out to the right for the onrushing right-back Cole Hyde, who hit a firm low shot in to the far corner.

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The game went end to end for a while, Woods going close with a free-kick, and at the other end, substitute Robbie Fox hit a firm left-foot shot that was parried away by Atherton.

Alex Kiwomya fired a shot in to the side netting and just as it looked like the visitors were happy to settle for a point, Kiwomya played a neat one-two with Atkinson, who fired a shot from 20 yards that Atherton couldn’t keep out at his near post.

There was still time for more chances, Joe Rodwell-Grant lifting a shot over the bar as the Yellows ran out of time to find an equaliser.

Post-match reaction

Manager Mark Beesley reflects on our first home defeat of the season.

Match facts

Warrington Town: Atherton, White, Hannigan, Gumbs, Woods, O’Neill (Harris), McDonald, Bennett (Southern), Dixon, Sithole (Rodwell-Grant), Grivosti (Miles). Unused subs: Gill.

Farsley Celtic: Ombang, Allan, Misambo, Branson, Sloane (Turner), Leverett (Atkinson), Fielding (Watson), Greenfield, Hyde, Sturridge (Fox), Stephenson (Kiwomya).

Goals: O’Neill (5) / Hyde (65), Atkinson (90)

Yellow cards: Dixon (80) / Fielding (73), Ombang (90)

Attendance: 1,018

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