WARRINGTON TOWN...3

GREAT HARWOOD...2

GREAT Harwood came close to scoring a dramatic equaliser after fighting back from 3-0 down in this NWCL Division One clash on Friday night.

Seven of the Harwood side, including manager Denis Underwood, arrived late for the game after being caught up in traffic due to a crash on the motorway.

The game was delayed until 8pm but it still meant only a short warm-up for the Harwood side who were looking for their first league win in 11 games. And Warrington capitalised racing into a two-goal lead within 20 minutes.

"We had talked about not giving anything away for the first 20 minutes and with their first real attack they scored and then got another," said the boss. "That was disappointing."

Harwood failed to convert a few chances and immediately after the restart Warrington made it three.

The visitors got one back courtesy of an own goal and then Graham Lightbown and Paul Demain both had chances before Neil Kennedy found Shaun Bursnell.

Bursnell's intial shot was blocked but he tucked home the rebound to set up a grandstand finish.

Harwood threw everything at Warrington with new boy Simon Garner coming close as did Kristian Trippier.

In fact Trippier was unlucky to be judged off-side when one-on-one with the keeper. The assistant referee had gone off injured and one of Town's trainers took over. He wasn't allowed to flag for off-sides and it was left to the ref who Underwood felt got this decision wrong.

"I'm not complaining as the ref had a good game but he wasn't off side. The referee was not in a good position but it was just one of those things."