The Doodson Sport Cup is not high on the list of manager Steve Halford’s priorities, that was clear from a line up that showed 8 changes from the team turned out against the same opponents three days earlier, however he would not have anticipated this defeat, by a scoreline that a flurry of late goals turned from slightly disappointing to embarrassing.

Saturday’s game had been a dire match, short on chances and quality after an early rush of action, and for a spell in the first half it looked as though this game might go the same way.  Shaun Williams missed a gilt edged opportunity before passes started to go astray from both sides. 

However, the game took off on the half hour when Warrington forced a smart save from debutant keeper Ash Gotham at his near post.  Mossley tried to respond, and Shaun Williams again shot weakly when receiving Richardson’s cut pass.  He ball wiggled loose to Lutel Williams, who should have scored but the keeper saved with his, giving Rowney another shot on the rebound, only to see it cleared off the line.

However on 33 minutes Warrington took the lead when a poor pass by Brad Yearwood was intercepted on the left and Gratton got behind the full back down the flank and to the by-line.  He was able to look up and pick out Townson at the near post and he couldn’t miss from short range.

This buoyed the visitors and Gotham was forced to make further saves , diving full length and tipping over the bar but he could do little with the second goal when it came two minutes into injury time.  A Collins shot from the edge of the area hit the inside of the post and bounced out to Townson who nodded a simple header past the stranded keeper.

Jay Gorton came on for the second half as Mossley looked to chase the game, but within 5 minutes it was 3-0 as Peter Band played a suicidal ball across his own box that was intercepted by Townson.  The former Rochdale man had an age to control and pick his spot, which he did.

Ben Richardson pulled one back with a shot across the keeper on 63 minutes and this sparked a brief rally, before Phil Doran took the game away from the Lilywhites once more, with the goal of the game.  He picked up the ball at the corner of the box and whilst everyone expected a cross he leathered the ball into the far top corner at high velocity.
Gotham had had no chance with any of the goals, but was to blame for number 5 just a minute later when a Townson shot from the edge of the box took a slight deflection that the young keeper appeared to have covered at his post but he let it slip under his body.

The game was over as a contest, but Warrington weren’t for letting up, and with 5 minutes to go a 1-2 at the edge of the box allowed Mooney a run on goal, and he finished under the diving Gotham and finally in the last minute a 25 yard free kick was curled into the top corner by Mooney.

Report by Jonathan Haggart

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