Report: Warrington Town 2-0 Morecambe

Warrington Town’s pre-season stepped up a gear as they defeated Football League side Morecambe 2-0 on Saturday.

Goals in either half from Jordan Buckley and play-off final heero Isaac Buckley-Ricketts made the difference in the Yellows’ final friendly at Cantilever Park before the new season begins.

The visitors started well, and it took a fine early save from Dan Atherton to stop Jordan Slew breaking the deadlock eight minutes in.

Mark Beesley’s side – who put in a credible performance in a 3-2 defeat to another Football League side, Accrington Stanley, in midweek – grew into the half as it wore on, with Jordan Buckley coming close as he headed Jay Harris’ cross straight at Adam Smith.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: 2023/24 season

After some impressive football, Town soon hit the front on 25 minutes. Matty McDonald robbed his man of possession high up the pitch before driving towards the penalty area and laying the ball off to Buckley, who calmly slotted a shot into the far corner with the help of the inside of the post.

The Yellows kept threatening, Harris and McDonald both almost adding to the 1-0 lead.

It took until seven minutes after half-time for the second goal to come, and again it came after some fierce closing down saw Harris gather midway inside the Morecambe half. He found Buckley-Ricketts, who cut inside near the corner of the box and saw his shot take a wicked deflection which wrong-footed the visiting goalkeeper.

SHOP NOW: Yellows merchandise

Atherton had to be at his best to stop Morecambe’s Trialist B from pulling a goal back as the game entered the final quarter, but that was as close as the Shrimps came to threatening a comeback.

The only sour note on an otherwise positive afternoon was the sight of second half substitute Josh Amis leaving the field late on with a suspected knee injury after landing heavily following a header.

The Yellows have four more pre-season friendlies to come, starting with a trip to FC United of Manchester on Tuesday night.

Warrington Town: Atherton, Duggan, White, Hannigan, Trialist A, Harris, Woods, Williams, Buckley, McDonald, Buckley-Ricketts

Subs used: Amis, Gumbs, Duffy, Walker, Dixon, Trialist B