Leek Town began 2026 with a well deserved draw at Warrington Town but, despite could conceivably have come away with all three points if they had been more clinical in front of goal in the periods of the game when they had had the upper hand particularly early on in the first half when they could have been two goals to the good before the home side had really started and also for spells in the second half.

As it was, Ollie Shentons precision finish after 53mins earned the Blues a valuable point in their battle to avoid the drop after going behind late in the first half to a side that had only lost once at home so far this season.

Leek welcomed back goalkeeper, and captain, Dino Visser after injury for this match and he was one of three changes made by Josh Brehaut after the Boxing Day loss at home to Stocksbridge. Adam Porter was preferred in midfield to Lucas Weir, and Hayden Campbell was given his first start after a couple of substitute appearances up front with Tunde Owolabi taking a place on the bench.

And it was Campbell who had three chances to open the scoring as the Blues blew off the New Year cobwebs to look the better of the two sides in the opening 15mins.

The first came after just 5mins when Yellows goalkeeper Luke Hewitson looking to clear a ball to the right of his goal failed to connect properly and hit it straight to Campbell some 22 yards out. Although the goal was gaping with Hewitson stranded the angle wasn’t straightforward but, even so, the strikers first time effort was well off target.

A better chance arrived with a lightening break out of defence by Leek as they dealt with Warrington’s first corner of the game on 7mins. Alex Hurst brought the ball forward quickly before playing it into Porters path who was sprinting outside him on the left as they approached the Warrington area. Having kept up with play Campbell was completely free in the middle and Porter was able to play it square to him. Despite having the time to take a touch and pick his spot Campbell chose to take it first time but only succeeded in hitting it too close to Hewitson who was able to parry it away.

The third opportunity came after 15mins and was the result of another incisive Leek break forward that resulted in Connor Heath finding Porters run whos shot from the edge of the area was blocked and deflected to Campbell inside the area. Ignoring the chance to shoot with his left the striker sold his defender the dummy and cut inside to curl one into the far corner. Hewitson had read his intentions and was able to get down to his left to make an excellent one handed save. Even then the keeper was saved by a teammate as his save crashed straight into the shins of Shenton, who was following in, and rebounded goalwards only to be prevented from going in by a defender on the line.

When they should have been ahead Leek nearly fell behind as the home side went straight up the other end and even though Carl Dickinson cut out a cross from Elliott Morris the Blues centre half was caught in possession by Josh Vela and his right footed effort looked to be heading in until Visser was able to claw it away with a great save.

The chance seemed to kickstart the Yellows out of their slumber and they would then go on to boss the majority of the first half, although Leeks cause was not helped by the loss of Ollie Heywood after 23mins who suffered an unfortunate dislocation of his shoulder. Whilst Liam Buckley was more than an adequate replacement it did mean the defence was slightly unbalanced with a predominately right footer at left back.

Over on the other side Tom Curl was guilty of dithering on the ball on 28mins and lost possession to set up a shooting opportunity for Liam Brazier who stung the hands of the well placed Visser with a powerful effort from just inside the area. From the resultant corner Leek dealt with the initial delivery but the Yellows kept it alive and the follow up cross was flicked on to the far post but the unmarked Brazier was unable to connect cleanly to trouble Visser.

Warrington continued to press and when full back James Melhado got forward to deliver a cross from the right to the far post the headed clearance fell to Vela on the edge of the box who hit a sweetly struck half volley but it was straight into the safe hands of Visser.

The Yellows had the ball in the net after 37mins when Morris lashed home a loose ball but the referee had already blown for a foul committed on Visser before the home side did take the lead shortly afterwards on 40mins. Devarn Green broke away down the left before swinging in a cross that Morris flicked on and Jay Harris was able to slide home from close range after sneaking in at the far post.

Due to Heywood injury there were six added minutes at the end of the first half and both sides had a chance to alter the one nil scoreline. The first fell to Warrington’s Reece Daly who received a ball from the left and swivelled smartly inside the area to get his shot away but Visser was once again well positioned to make a comfortable save.

The Blues chance came when Buckleys cross from the left swung dangerously into the far post beyond the last defender to find Connor Heath but the forward was unable to get anything on the ball when it just required a touch to convert.

WARRINGTON TOWN 1 - LEEK TOWN 0 HT

Leek made a half time substitute with Julius Ndene replacing Dickinson in the centre of defence and, once again, began the half looking the more lively of the two sides only this time they were rewarded for their efforts with the equaliser. Curl was starting to provide a threat down the right with a couple of strong runs from his full back position but the goal came from a move down the opposite flank. Campbell picked up a ball played forward in space and was able to advance before finding Hurst. His low cross was not dealt with by Warrington’s Jack Doyle and fell nicely for Shenton to produce a pinpoint finish with his right foot across Hewitson and into the far corner.

Leek had the momentum and continued to maintain it to keep the majority of the 1015 crowd quiet with Billy Reeves driving over on 57mins before the Blues carved out another great chance on 59mins. Hurst broke forward on the left and slid a pass into Heath inside the area. Campbell was free in the centre waiting for the square ball but Heath chose to take the shot and forced Hewitson into his second excellent save of the game as he got a finger tip on it down low to divert it pass the post for a corner that came to nothing.

As the game passed the hour mark it became more even and substitutions for both sides seemed to disrupt the flow of the game and prevent either side from imposing themselves on the other. The game was there to be won but neither side could create a chance of note with Melhado skewing an effort high over the Leek crossbar whilst, for the Blues, Curls end product failed to match his promising runs forward with two wild efforts that posed more danger to the planes on their way from Manchester airport than to Hewitsons goal.

The last 5mins saw Owolabi join the fray and when he was brought down by Troy Bourne after latching onto a ball forward Leek were looking for the red card but the referee, after consultation with his assistant, only brandished a yellow. The free kick, however, did provide a last opportunity for the Blues to win it. The ball was swung in and although the Yellows defence initially cleared it, Buckley was first to the ball and drove past a couple of defenders before squaring the ball back across. Heath had a chance on the turn but didn’t connect properly before an earlier substitute, Lucas Weir, was able to fire goalwards but saw Vela block his effort a yard out with his chest for the game to end all square.

WARRINGTON TOWN 1 - LEEK TOWN 1 FT

MATCH REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

A solid start to 2026 with a battling performance against a very good Warrington Town, who have only lost once at home all season. We have 9 days to prepare for the visit of FC United of Manchester, a team we love hosting who played their very first game at the home of Leek Town.

You can get your tickets HERE ON FANBASE

Match Photogallery courtesy of Jim Booth HERE