Wulfs came up short in the battle of 3rd v 2nd as Gornal Athletic picked up all three points after a comfortable 3-1 victory at the Castlecroft Stadium.
It took the visitors just six minutes to take the lead. Richard Young played a good ball down the right wing where Marvin Nisbett outmuscled his man before crossing low to the far post where Danny Ashton fired home.
Although Gornal were the more composed side, Wulfs were looking threatening through Ricky Anslow and Nathan Rose-Laing but they were being well marshalled by the visiting defence.
Gornal should have increased their lead in the 26th minute when neat play through midfield led to the ball bring played out left to Robin Keates and his low ball in was fired over the bar by Kristian Green from inside the six yard box.
Young then fired a shot just past the post and Nisbett curled a shot around the keeper but back off the far post as Gornal continued to dominate.
Wulfs finally showed some attacking threat shortly before the interval. First Anslow raced clear and lifted the ball over the keeper but Chris Waterhouse got back before the striker could put the ball into the empty net and then Jake Sedgemore fired a free kick at the keeper after Anslow had been brought down right on the corner of the area.
Gornal were quickest out of the traps at the start of the second half with Matt Martin seeing his 20 yard shot tipped over the bar and Kristian Green having his fierce cross-cum-shot pushed wide by Marc Evans.
The threat of the Wulfs forwards finally paid dividends as they crafted an equaliser in the 58th minute. Anslow fed Robin Sheffield and he slid a ball through for Rose-Laing to chip the keeper from an acute angle.
Gornal almost hit back immediately when Evans saved a Nisbett shot with his foot but they didn’t have to wait long as they did find the net again in the 62nd minute. Ashton played a ball forward to Martin and his turn foxed his marker before the striker fired home from just outside the area.
Five minutes later Gornal extended their lead when Gurdeep Wilkhoo played a neat 1-2 with Green on the edge of area before drilling a shot into the corner of the net.
Wulfs were also handed a lifeline 15 minutes from time when Connor Gater headed Danny Crudgington’s cross back towards his own goal but, fortunately for him, just wide of the far post.
As the game wore on, Gornal had chances to extend their lead, the best falling to Green and substitute Seb Craven, but they had already done enough to win.
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