Hornets stung by Warrington’s late show and go out of Trophy

HEBBURN Town suffered late heartache as they exited the FA Trophy at the hands of Warrington Town for the second consecutive season.

The visitors settled the quicker of the two sides and created two sights of goal within the opening five minutes.

The lively Matthew Mcdonald tried his luck first as the midfielder was given time and space on the edge of the Hornets’ area but sent his effort wide of Shaun Newbrook’s far post.

The early pressure continued to flow one way as Yellows debutant Connor Woods curled over the crossbar as the home defence retreated inside their area.

The quarter-hour mark brought the first moment of promise for Daniel Moore’s side as Liam Murray’s shot was smothered by visitors’ goalkeeper Tony Thompson before Olly Martin sent an effort just beyond the far post.

That could and should have signalled a more positive spell of play for the Hornets but, more often than not, they were let down by poor decisionmaking and their inability to hold on to possession for sustained periods.

The chances began to flow at the other end of the pitch as the powerful and effective running of Bohan Dixon and nuisance of striker Josh Amis posed questions of the hosts.

Neither player was given a real sight of goal but they were influential as Hornets’ goalkeeper Newbrook produced three smart saves to deny Mcdonald and Luke Duffy as the final five minutes of the half approached.

Hebburn, to their credit, stuck to the task and almost snatched the lead just before the interval when Robbie Spence’s header was tipped around the far post by Thompson.

The resulting corner kick brought more threat as Arron Thompson crashed a volley just over the crossbar to end a challenging opening 45 minutes in a more positive fashion than they had begun.

If the Hornets had made a slow start to the first half, the same could not be said of the second as they took the lead within five minutes of the restart.

A foul on Liam Henderson allowed Olly Martin to step up and send Thompson the wrong way to put his side in front.

The lead lasted until just before the hour-mark as Hebburn failed to clear a free kick into their area and that gave Amis a chance to power a rising volley into the net via the underneath of Newbrook’s crossbar. Chances