Goalkeeper Karl Wills was the hero, saving two penalties in the shoot out to defeat Farsley in the final to earn Town their first silverware in 14 years.

Nothing could separate the two sides over 90 minutes, despite Town throwing everything at their opponents in a dominant second half display at Edgeley Park, home of Stockport County.

Wills saved the first and fifth Farsley penalty, while another came back off the post, as Town came home 3-2 winners in the shoot out at the end of the 59th game of a marathon season.

Captain Craig Robinson, the goal scorer in the famous FA Cup first round win over Exeter earlier in the season, was a rock at the back and lifted the cup along with regular captain David Mannix in front of a 731-strong crowd, dominated by the yellow and blue of Town.

karl-willsFor a time, it looked like Farsley goalkeeper Tom Taylor was going to deny Warrington their destiny, 20 years on since their last cup final appearance when they lost to Winsford in the League Cup final at Maine Road.

Taylor was called in to action on at least half a dozen occasions in an at times relentless Town performance in the second half, as Shaun Reid’s side threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Yorkshiremen.

That came after a cagey first half where neither side really got out of their shell. The closest anyone came before half time was when Louis Corrigan’s free kick was tipped over the bar by Taylor, while Lewis Nightingale had the best chance for Farsley, denied at a tight angle by Wills.

After half time, it was all Town. Another Corrigan free kick evaded everyone and almost caught out Taylor at the far post.

Taylor pushed wide a Tames header from Ben Wharton’s cross, with Robinson glancing a header just wide from the resulting corner.

The goalkeeper then clawed away the ball from under the bar from a cross, before smothering Gerard Kinsella on the follow up.

Tames stood up two defenders and had a left footed shot tipped over and James McCarten was denied from point blank range with a header.

Farsley rarely threatened, and Taylor’s rearguard action took the game straight to penalties on 90 minutes. Wills saved from Spencer Harris to give Town the perfect start in the shootout, before Taylor again thwarted Town, this time saving from Nathan Burke’s spot kick.

Andy Welsh hit the post before Town finally beat Taylor’s resolve, Wharton sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Town the 1-0 lead.

Robbie O’Brien, Scott Metcalfe, Adam Priestley and Chris Gahgan all converted their penalties, as Town led 3-2, and then Wills was the hero, saving from Aiden Savory.

It earned Town their first silverware since winning the North West Counties Division 2 league title 14 years ago.

Farsley: Taylor, Aspin, Serrant (Cromack), O’Brien, McQuade, Harris, Nightingale (Priestley), Daly, Hancock (Welsh), Savory, Dempsey. Unused subs: Tonkinson, Lofthouse.

Warrington: Wills, Turner, Corrigan, Beattie (Gahgan), McCarten, Robinson, Tames, Burke, Wharton, Kinsella, Metcalfe. Unused subs: Reid, Mannix, Hickey, Collins.