Warrington Town 2 Sutton Coldfield Town 1

WARRINGTON Town avoided a banana skin as they beat struggling Sutton Coldfield at Cantilever Park.

Debutant Steve Jennings fired Yellows ahead inside the first minute before Rory McKeown doubled the lead after the interval.

Gurjit Singh reduced the deficit for the visitors, but Paul Carden’s side held on for the win.

Against a side who arrived bottom of the Evo-Stik Premier Division, the hosts made the perfect start.

James Barrigan escaped down the left and his clever backheel found Southport loanee Jennings, who blasted a left-footed effort high into the net.

Barrigan had a couple of chances to go from provider to scorer as Yellows continued to find joy going forward, first having a shot deflected past the post before sliding Abou Sanogo’s cross wide.

The visitors, however, weren’t without their chances and could perhaps feel unfortunate not to have drawn level when James Beresford’s header from a corner rebounded off the post and away to safety.

Yellows continued to dominate in terms of chances and a nice move down the left sent left-back Rory McKeown into the area, but his cross somehow evaded everyone waiting to finish.

Jamie McDonald was the next to go close after Barrigan’s cross found him unmarked, but he could only steer his header over the bar.

A poor clearance from Sutton Coldfield keeper Craig Ellison then sent Sanogo cantering through on goal just before the interval, but he failed to hit the target.

The visitors started the second half brightly, building pressure without really testing Yellows stopper Tony McMillan.

However, substitute Dylan Vassallo influenced the game within minutes of coming on.

After being released down the right by Tony Gray, Vassallo’s pull-back found McKeown and he slammed home his first goal of the season at the far post.

The visitors did not roll over, though, and Singh profited from a mistake by Evan Gumbs in the Yellows defence, slotting past McMillan.

The Sutton Coldfield goalscorer then curled an effort narrowly wide as they pushed for an equaliser, but it was the hosts who had the better chances.

McDonald slid wide when Barrigan headed a cross into his path, before Sean Williams saw his free kick pushed round the post by Ellison.

The visiting keeper then almost dropped a tame-looking header from Jay McCarten over his line as Yellows closed out the victory.

Warrington Town: McMillan, Adam Carden, McKeown, Jennings, McCarten, Gumbs, Sanogo (Vassallo), Williams, McDonald, Gray (Barnes), Barrigan (Bakkor). Subs not used: Davis, Goulding.