Tshikuna goal nets the point Lambs need for title glory
TAMWORTH 1 WARRINGTON TOWN 1
Vanarama National League North
NATHAN Tshikuna scored as the Lambs secured the point they needed to clinch back to back titles in front of a massive 2,938 crowd at the Compare The Build Community Stadium on Saturday.
After a disappointing 3-0 reversal at Brackley Town on Easter Monday, Andy Peaks’ side knew just one point from their final three games, or for Chorley not to win one of their final four would see them lift the Vanarama National League North trophy at the final whistle.
On a sunny but blustery afternoon and with the Lamb packed on three sides, Warrington kicked off the game with The Lambs attacking the Meadow Street end, largely populated with visiting fans, in the first half.
A fine through flick to Curley from Tshikuna on 15 minutes saw the ball whipped in and headed behind for a corner but Atherton, ultimately, was equal to Tshikuna’s low cross.
Fine interplay to allow Finn a shooting chance on 17 minutes nearly saw Atherton beaten, but his curling shot from the left of the D went a yard past the far post with The Lamb ready to erupt.
The pressure continued as Acquaye and Wreh combined on 23 minutes, with the latter turning on the edge of the area before hitting a shot on target which Atherton collected.
Acquaye forced another corner, on 30 minutes, and when it came to Tshikuna 18 yards out he struck low and a deflection off the last defender took it past Atherton and set the celebrations off.
News filtered through that Chorley were a goal down, adding to the celebratory atmosphere as the half ended with the Lambs 1-0 ahead.
Warrington restarted the game at 16:07 almost exactly when the Buston game got back underway, and Tamworth looked for a second goal in the early exchanges.
Milnes found Finn on the right of the box on 50 minutes and he prodded it past Atherton but the flag went up as it struck the post and Atherton pulled off a superb one handed parry to deny Wreh’s half volley a minute later.
The visitors made it all square on 52 minutes when Eze angled a shot from the right of the box past Singh and into the far corner, and although Finn had gone down under a challenge on the hallway line in the build up play had been allowed to continue, resulting in the goal.
Inside the final ten minutes, The Lambs turned up the heat to try and bag a second goal without success.
Five minutes added time was shown at the end of the second half and McDonald struck from distance bringing Singh into action to push it away for a corner on 94 minutes before the final whistle blew and the celebrations began in earnest.