Nantwich Town 0 Warrington Town 0

(Nantwich won 5-3 on penalties)

NANTWICH Town booked a Cheshire Senior Cup final date with Crewe Alexandra as they needed a penalty shoot-out to edge past Evo-Stik Premier Division rivals Warrington Town.

After 120 scoreless minutes at Weaver Stadium, Ibou Touray scored the winning penalty to send The Dabbers through to face their neighbours.

Dabbers boss Phil Parkinson signalled his intent for the game by making only two changes to the side that secured a 3-0 league victory over Coalville Town on Saturday.

The visitors started on the front foot without creating too much, with Danny Hattersley heading an effort wide from a corner.

With the interval approaching, Nantwich came to life and Yellows stopper Tony McMillan was forced into a superb save to deny Josh Hancock a tap-in.

Sean Williams then had an effort from distance beaten away by home keeper Dan Gyollai, while Scott Harries’ dangerous cross after the break was cleared with Hattersley waiting to tap it in.

Parkinson threw on ex-Warrington striker Tom Peers in an effort to find the opening goal, but neither side could force a winner in normal time.

In the extra 30-minute period that followed, McMillan denied Steve Jones before Jon Shaw glanced Dylan Vassallo’s corner agonisingly wide for the visitors.

With the game still goalless after 120 minutes of action, the game hinged on who could keep their nerve from the spot.

After the hosts had converted their first effort through Ben Harrison, Warrington’s response was far from ideal as Danny Ventre sent their opening penalty over the bar.

Ryan Brooke beat McMillan to put Nantwich firmly in command before Michael Monaghan slammed home his spot kick to get Yellows on the board.

Hattersley and Vassallo both converted their spot kicks for Warrington, but McMillan could not keep out efforts from Andy White, John Johnston and Touray as The Dabbers advanced to the final.

Attention now turns back to league matters for Nantwich, who sit second in the table with ten games left to play.

The first of those games sees them travel to struggling Ilkeston on Saturday, kick off 3pm, before hosting leaders Blyth Spartans on Tuesday, kick off 7.45pm.