A carnival atmosphere

Match Report

10th April 1999

There was a carnival atmosphere at Cantilever Park for Town's final home game of the season - hooters were sounding, banners were flying, and the team were in the mood too.   Bacup were steam-rolled into an embarassingly heavy defeat, the final whistle saw Town camped in the Bacup half, their fans baying for double figures.

Yellow's choice for man of the match was Terry Nestor, he began as he meant to go on, dribbling through the opposition defence but shooting weakly in the 2nd minute.  He was unlucky with a free kick from the edge of the box a few moments later after the industrious Paul Berry was upended, keeper Adam Potts pushing Nestor's goal-bound effort over the bar.

The scoring was opened on 26 minutes by Damien Whitehead, sliding the ball past the keeper after turning in a crowded penalty area.  Town put the game beyond Bacup with a triple whammy, three goals in three minutes left Bacup wondering what had hit them.   Two superb volleys followed Damo's goal, the first by Elfyn Edwards direct from a corner and the second a sweet shot from the edge of the box by David Tickle after a Damo flick on.

Berry had the Bacup defence opened up once again just minutes later, his cross-shot was inches from Tyrell's outstretched boot.  Bacup's only stroke of luck happened just before the interval, as a shot from Tyrell deflected onto the bar.  Minutes later Neil Holden beat the Bacup right back and Tyrell got his inevitable goal sliding into the six yard box.

Town carried on exactly where they left off in the second period.  A succession of corners (Nestor was denied by an amazing double save in one goal mouth scramble) finally paid off and Tyrell slammed home after his hard work saw the ball loose in the six yard box:

Steve Cartledge was replaced by Paul Anderton on 56 minutes.  Two minutes later Nestor curled a beautiful pass to the storming Holden down the left wing.  He ran into the box, rounded the keeper, leaving him for dead on the goal-line, and unselfishly squared it to Whitehead, who gratefully dispatched number 49 for the season in front of the Bridge End.

Terry Nestor got the goal he undoubtedly deserved straight from the restart, tackling a Bacup player near the half-way line and beating two on his way to soundly hammering the ball in from the edge of the box.

Damo then went solo for his 50th goal this season.  Running clear from midfield, he cheekily pulled off a technically perfect lob with the end of his toe from 20 yards out.  The Bridge End went berserk and so did Whitehead, leaping onto the crossbar and acrobatically landing in the back of the net.  He exhibited some uncharacteristic clumisness in disentangling himself, as an exclusive Yellows photograph shows.

Today's result was exactly what Town deserved, and exactly the sort of result they need if their promotion campaign is to be successful.  Here's hoping Abbey Hey's run-in is insufficient to overhaul Town.

Alan Hansen says: Och aye!  Come on Toon!

Yellows Special Edition
Spot-the-Ball Game

To celebrate Damo's 50th goal this season, Yellows brings you a one-off Spot-the-Ball game.

Simply click where you think the ball is...

Clues:

Time - 4.36 pm 17/4/99
Weather conditions - Sunny / showers
Person who last kicked it - Damien Whitehead

Here's a Warrington Guardian report on this match:

WHAT A WAY TO BOW OUT!

Warrington Town 8 Bacup Borough 0

WARRINGTON'S second 8-0 win inside a month was their highest home victory for 41 years and keeps them on course for possible promotion.

Goal king Damien Whitehead, who scored five in the 8-0 success at Castleton Gabriels, bagged another three on Saturday to reach his 50 goal target for the season. Strike partner Kevin Tyrrell netted twice to take his total to 20 with Elfyn Edwards, Dave Tickle and Terry Nestor also getting in on the act.

Whitehead had something special up his sleeve for his 50th, Town's final goal in their last home North Western Trains League second division game of the season on Saturday. The 19-year-old beat the off-side trap and as goalkeeper Adam Potts advanced to meet him Whitehead stuck his toe under the ball and delicately lofted it over Potts' head and into the empty net.

The game was over as a contest after an amazing whirlwind three minutes in the opening half. Whitehead opened his account with a sweetly struck shot in after 21 minutes, then Edwards volleyed home a Paul Berry corner after 22 minutes and Tickle smashed home from another corner after 23 minutes. Tyrrell slid in to meet Neil Holden's cross and make it 4-0 for half-time.

Holden's corner was turned in by Tyrell in the 56th minute and then after a thrilling Holden run down the flank he squared the ball for Whitehead to fire home his second in the 71st minute.

Thirty seconds later Nestor slotted the ball under the 'keeper from a one-on-one and Whitehead coolly finished things off.

Town: Christian Steriopolus, Andy Tague, Steve Cartledge, Ian Callaghan, Elfyn Edwards, Paul Berry, Terry Nestor, Dave Tickle, Kevin Tyrrell, Damien Whitehead, Neil Holden. Subs: Paul Anderton, Alan Blair, Joey Fenton (not used).