Warminster manager Rob Nash made just the one change from the 11 that started last Friday’s impressive away win at Shirehampton.
Max Whittaker replaced Toby Worts, playing at right back with Owen Bartley switching to left. Ahead of today’s fixture Phones occupied third place in the Division One table, level on points with Devizes and Bitton, having won their last three games.
Warminster did not start well and conceded as early as the second minute. The ball fell to the division’s joint top scorer, Liam McCracken, on the left side of the penalty area, who lifted it over Town’s static defence just inside the far post, 1-0.
Just three minutes later McCracken struck again. From the narrowest of angles, the striker beat Town keeper Jack Amor at the near post, 2-0.
After the initial shock of conceding the two early goals the visitors eventually started to assert themselves. On 21 minutes a great flick from Charlie Walton sent Corey Gardner clear down the left. Corey crossed to the back post where Seb Hounsell, with the goal at his mercy, mishit his shot and a Phones’ defender cleared it off the line. From the resulting corner Jordan Pinder headed just over the crossbar.
Jack Newman then did well down the left and pulled the ball back to Corey Gardner just outside the box. Corey’s shot flashed just inches wide of the upright. The pressure had been building and three minutes before the break Town pulled a goal back. Corey turned provider this time picking out Jack in the box, who curled his shot around the Phones keeper, Ashton Trott. At half-time The Phones led 2-1.
At the start of the second period the hosts appeared to have reorganised their defence and were not allowing Town any clear chances. Rob Nash rang the changes bringing on Tyson Pollard for Reece Collyer, Braden Humphreys for George Walker-Haynes and Tyler Gane for Seb Hounsell.
As in the first-half Warminster started to get on top. In the 80th minute a clear Phones’ hand ball, just outside the penalty area, was missed by the referee but after intervention from her linesman the free kick was awarded. This led to dissent from the Phones’ coaching staff and one of them was shown a red card. The free kick was curled into the danger area where Charlie Walton powered an unstoppable header past keeper Trott, 2-2.
In the last minute of normal time the Phones had a great chance to win the game. A cross from left picked out substitute Steff Lee on the edge of the six-yard box in the centre of the goal. To the relief of the Warminster faithful Lee volleyed over the bar. In stoppage time a clumsy challenge on Corey Gardner led to a free kick being awarded to Town just outside the penalty area. Tyson Pollard stepped up to try to complete a superb comeback victory but unfortunately the wall blocked his shot.
So at the full-time whistle the points were shared. Warminster dominated long periods of the game but ultimately were left to rue their poor start. Having gone behind nil-two in the first five minutes Town will consider this a hard-fought and well-deserved point. The Phones might consider themselves lucky they didn’t concede all three!
Report: Geoff Jackson
Picture: JH Sports Photography
