Warrington Town 2 Shaw Lane 1

RORY McKeown scored Town’s winner before later being sent off as Yellows secured their place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division play-offs.

McKeown was one of two players sent off by referee Daniel Issawi, who made his presence known throughout the game.

The ever-present left-back will now serve a three-game ban starting with Tuesday’s visit to Grantham, meaning he will miss Town’s play-off semi-final.

Sean Williams’ penalty was cancelled out by Chib Chilaka before visiting midfielder Kieron Lugsden saw red for a second bookable offence before the break.

Yellows, knowing a draw would be enough to seal their place in the top five, were handed a golden chance to take the lead when Will Hayhurst was hauled down inside the area by Tyler Williams as he tried to reach McKeown’s long throw.

Williams stepped up and converted his 15th goal of the season despite Ducks keeper Eddie Wilcynski guessing the right way.

It would not be the first time Issawi would make his whistle heard in a fractious first half, with Lugsden and Gerard Kinsella booked for a minor bout of pushing and shoving.

Town were looking comfortable, but were hit with a blow just before the half-hour mark as Chilaka escaped his marker to head home Alex Byrne’s free kick.

Wilcynski was in top form again to parry Williams’ wide set piece as it looked destined for the top corner before another key moment in the game.

Lugsden dived into a poor challenge on Jamie McDonald and, after calming down the protests from both sides, referee Issawi showed him a second yellow card.

The hosts pushed hard to nudge themselves back in front before the break, but the ball just would not go in for them.

A Williams corner flashed straight across the face of goal before Wilcynski was again called upon to beat away a free kick, this time from Hayhurst.

Yellows needed a good start to the second half, and they were given one just three minutes after the break.

Adam Carden and Shaun Beeley combined well down the right wing before the latter’s cross found McKeown, who nodded home at the far post.

Despite their man disadvantage, Shaw Lane pushed Town back and came agonisingly close to equalising on the hour mark.

A quick free kick got them in down the right channel, but the shot was saved by Luke Pilling before Liam Goulding got back to clear the loose ball off the line.

Yellows were comfortably in control, but Issawi levelled up matters in terms of personnel in controversial circumstances.

McKeown caught Byrne after losing a 50-50 tackle and the referee produced a straight red card.

However, it did not matter in the end and Yellows could even have extended their lead with the final kick of the game.

With the Ducks sending Wilcynski forward for a free-kick, the hosts cleared and Will Hayhurst bore down on the unprotected goal.

Olly Dyson brought him down for what looked like the denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity, but Issawi rounded off a night of controversial decisions by only showing the visiting defender a yellow card.

Warrington Town: Pilling, Adam Carden (McEveley), McKeown, Jennings, Higgins, Goulding, Beeley, Williams, McDonald (Piggott), Kinsella (Bakare), Hayhurst. Subs not used: Leacock-McLeod, Barnes.