From the online version of the Warrington Guardian
FA VASE RUN BEGINS
SOCCER'S shameful side marred what was otherwise a wonderful night for
Warrington Town on Tuesday. They shunted North Western Trains League Division Two leaders
Curzon Ashton out of the FA Vase but only after losing their club skipper to a dreadful
elbow blow. Substitute Andy Tague, who had only been on the field a few minutes, was
poleaxed by a hefty mid-air challenge by Curzon defender Niel Taylor and ended up in
hospital.
Afterwards Town's manager Dave Hughes said: "That was shocking. The fellow should
have been sent off for that. The referee must have seen what he had done because he booked
him. Andy was left with a cut on his forehead that needed seven stitches."
Town, who had five ex-Curzon players in their side, drew 3-3 at the weekend to earn the
first round replay at Cantilever Park and in both games had key men missing which made
their achievement all the more admirable. The absence of inspirational midfielder Terry
Nestor and front man Kevin Tyrell was balanced in part by the return of central defender
Mike Tandy from a hamstring injury. It was an incident-packed tie which took Town's run
against Curzon to seven games without defeat in the past 12 months.
The killer goal four minutes from time had a bizarre build-up. Striker Jed Bushell was
hobbling and ready to be substituted after being clattered in the calves by the Curzon
goalkeeper. Outstanding midfielder Dave Tickle lost his contact lenses and had his manager
Hughes scouring in the grass to find them. It was a lost cause and Tickle carried on
without them. Moments later it was Tickle who whipped in a lovely pass for Bushell to
chase. The striker gritted his teeth, shrugged off his leg pain and raced 30m before
slamming the ball beneath 'keeper Tommy Allan to seal the win.
It completed Town's fightback as they had been 1-0 down from the ninth minute when Darryl
Gardiner fired home a rebound
From Warrington Worldwide
Town make most of
second chance
HAVING thrown away a two goal lead in their first encounter with
Curzon Ashton in the FA Vase first round, Warrington Town made no mistake in the replay at
Cantilever Park.
They booked a ticket to Dunston Federation Brewery in the second round
with an emphatic 3-1 victory. But at first it did not appear home advantage was going to
make things easier for Town. It was the visitors who struck first when Darryll Gardiner
fired in a low shot when Town 'keeper Neil McCormack could only fend off a stinging drive
from Nigel Evans.
Gavin McDonald, one of five former Curzon players now with Warrington earned the equaliser
however, hammering in from close range 10 minutes before half-time after a cross from Ged
Bushell.
Warrington went ahead half-way through the second half when Neil Holden's
30-yard drive went in off the post.
Town put the outcome beyond doubt four minutes from the final whistle when Bushell hit the
third after a 40-yard run.