Match Report

16th November 1999 - Stalybridge Celtic 2 - 0 Warrington Town

A Warrington Guardian report:

CELTIC PROVE A BRIDGE TOO FAR

WARRINGTON emerged with a lot of credit from a battling performance despite being knocked out of the Cheshire Senior Cup on Tuesday. The UniBond Premier Division outfit, currently placed 66 positions above Town in the non-league pyramid, had to rely on a goal in the closing minutes to finally put the second round tie out of reach.

Warrington, fielding a similar starting line-up which triumphed over Dunston in the FA Vase four days previously and continuing to employ a three pronged attack, began the game in an adventurous mood. Neil Holden, with the first of three opportunites he carved out before the interval, was denied giving his side an early lead when his curling 25-yard free-kick was palmed over by goalkeeper Gary Ingham. He then went close to equalising for Warrington after Karl Marginson had fired Stalybridge into a 14th minute lead with a shot from the edge of the box which rebounded in off the base of a post. A fierce 25-yard effort was turned round an upright by Ingham before Holden fired off target from 15 yards.

Town goalkeeper Neil McCormack, celebrating his 23rd birthday and equally impressive between the sticks, then diverted over a powerful header by Marginson after the interval, before doing likewise following a rising drive by Kevin Parr. He was finally beaten for a second time when Andy Mason strode through a static Town defence and rifled home from 10 yards.

Warrington, who offered little attacking threat throughout the second half, with Jed Bushell and Kevin Tyrrell both ineffective, and with the side failing to score for only the second time on their travels this season, tested Ingham only once when he smothered a venomous 25-yard shot by Robbie Preidt.

Warrington: McCormack, Tague, Cartledge, Ashton, Tandy, Tickle, N. Holden (McDonald: 73 minutes); Tyrrell (Nestor: 62); Bushell, Preidt, Morgan (Harris: 80).