Warrington Town 4 Witton Albion 2

TOWN survived a scare before recording their 16th win from 19 home games against Witton Albion on Easter Monday.

The Yellows responded to Alex Titchiner’s opener for Witton by equalising through captain Ciaran Kilheeney’s penalty, before a manic period at the start of the second half saw four goals scored in the first 15 minutes.

Kilheeney put Town ahead before Michael Wilson equalised, but parity was short lived as first Daniel O’Donnell then Jay McCarten struck to seal the win for Town.

Stuart Mellish’s side now require just seven points to secure promotion from the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division, and could seal the deal away at Radcliffe Borough on Tuesday, April 12.

Having lost their first game of the Easter period away at Lancaster City, Town were looking for a response against their local rivals but made a less than ideal start.

After a quiet opening period, the visitors struck first when striker Rob Hopley cushioned the ball into the path of his strike partner Titchiner, who kept his calm to slam the ball past home keeper Karl Wills.

The visitors were then indebted to keeper Dan Roberts for making a fine double save to keep them ahead, but Town did eventually find the net through an all-too-familiar source.

Albion defender Chris Noone produced a needless trip on Gerard Kinsella inside the penalty area, leaving the referee with no choice but to award the spot kick and allow Kilheeney to convert his 31st goal of the season.

Ben Deegan then missed a decent chance after good work to put himself through on goal, but the visitors spurned an even greater opportunity when Titchiner picked up a through-ball from Danny Andrews but stabbed his effort against the post.

Despite a relatively busy first half, nothing could prepare the crowd for what they witnessed in a frantic opening to the second half.

Town drew first blood when Deegan headed Joe Holt’s cross into the path of Kilheeney, who made no mistake from close range.

However, the visitors were level just two minutes later when Town failed to deal with a corner and Wilson powered in the equaliser.

Amazingly, though, this merely seemed to galvanise Town and they led again on 52 minutes as O’Donnell headed in another corner.

This seemed to drain the life from Witton and Town pressed home their advantage and sealed the win when McCarten’s low free-kick crept past Roberts.

The Yellows can take another step towards promotion when they host mid-table Brighouse on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

Town: Wills, Brown, O’Donnell, McCarten, Dean, Holt (Gillespie 85), Ventre, Kinsella, Metcalfe, Deegan, Kilheeney. Subs not used: Robinson, Turner, Beattie, Gahgan.