Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Tuesday 12 September 2017

A goal early in the second half sent Rangers to defeat at Warrington despite a battling performance against the league leaders. Manager Neil Kitching gave a debut to new signing Osebi Abadaki but he struggled to make an immediate impact as Warrington created the better chances in an otherwise evenly fought opening 45 mins. The Wire’s first look in came on 9 mins when Abou Sanogo played in Joe Mwasile but Kai Davis’ excellent challenge denied the Warrington man a shot.

A couple of minutes later, Tony Gray supplied Mwasile who in turn picked out Sean Williams but Adam Whitehouse saved well with his foot. Rangers immediately switched play to the opposite end and saw Jack Sherratt’s long range effort pass just the wrong side of the post. Whitehouse saved again on 15 mins, this time from Jack Langston after Gray’s low centre deflected wickedly off the midfielder’s boot towards the near post. Kieran Morris and Abadaki were both off target for Rangers midway through the half before Whitehouse was saving Rangers again when he tipped over a header from Warrington skipper James McCarten.

The remaining 15 mins of the half failed to produce any further chances and the two sides headed in at the break all square. After a solid defensive display in the first half, it as a disappointingly soft goal just 6 minutes into the second that ultimately gave Warrington the points. Rangers lost possession in midfield allowing a break on the Warrington left. Bradley Barnes failed to control Rory McKeown’s centre but made no mistake at the second time of asking when Gray set him up with a simple tap home. Izak Reid did have the ball in the Warrington net midway through the half but was flagged offside after Dan Westwood ‘s initially shot had been partially saved then Langston curled one over a minute later but target man Dan Westwood barely got a sniff.

Sanogo wasted a great chance to double Warrington’s lead late on but his side had just about done enough.

Warrington: 1 Tony McMillan, 2 Adam Carden, 3 Rory McKeown, 4 Bradley Barnes, 5 James McCarten, 6 Liam Goulding, 7 Joe Mwasile (12 Ruben Jerome 59m), 8 Sean Williams (15 Gerard Kinsella 75m), 9 Tony Gray, 10 Connor Hughes (17 Caleb Richards 70m), 11 Abou Sanogo. Unused Subs: 14 Dylan Vassallo, 16 Shaun Beeley

Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kai Davis (17 Richard Gregory 79m), 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Exodus Geohaghon, 6 Jack Langston, 7 Izak Reid, 8 Osebi Abadaki (14 Joe Thomas 73m), 9 Dan Westwood, 10 Jack Sherratt, 11 Richard Batchelor (15 Levi Reid 62m). Unused Subs 12 Mat Bailey, 16 Louis Briscoe

Cautions: Kinsella (Warrington); Geohaghon, Davis, Gregory (Stafford)

Referee: Daniel Issawi

Att: 201