Warrington Town 1 Marine 0

PAUL Carden’s Yellows ground out a first ever victory over Marine to maintain their unbeaten record in 2017.

Michael Monaghan scored the winner just before the hour, his third in three games since joining the club, as Town’s unbeaten run stretched to five games in all competitions.

The win allowed Yellows to move up to 10th in the Evo-Stik Premier Division, five points off a play-off place.

Town started brightly, with Ruben Jerome flicking Dylan Vassallo’s corner just wide early on before Danny Mitchley dragged a shot past the post for the visitors when well placed.

The hosts looked lively going forward, with Vassallo having a shot blocked, but it was Marine who had the first half’s best chance just before the break.

Matty Hamilton burst into the area but Yellows stopper Tony McMillan got down well to save his shot.

Marine thought Monaghan should have been sent off for a heavy challenge on Robbie Threlfall that forced the visiting skipper off injured, but referee Michael Barlow deemed the tackle only worthy of a yellow card.

Carden’s men came out for the second half with renewed vigour as they searched for an opener, with John Shaw heading just wide and Jerome forcing a save from Marine keeper Calvin Hare, both from Vassallo free-kicks.

Monaghan then had a shot blocked before Hare spilled Scott Harries’ cross into the path of an unsuspecting Lewis Codling, who could only turn his shot wide.

However, Town finally did take the lead when Monaghan showed great tenacity to rob Marine defender Adam Hughes off possession before striding through on goal and slotting the ball calmly beyond Hare.

Yellows dropped deep to protect their lead and Marine accepted the invitation to apply pressure, but the Town defence remained strong.

Zac Thompson’s deliveries from set pieces often caused problems, but a Yellows defence marshalled expertly by Shaw and skipper Jay McCarten repelled all of the visitors’ advances, meaning their five games in 2017 have yielded four clean sheets.

Warrington Town: McMillan, Gumbs, Askew, Duggan, McCarten, Shaw, Harries, Vassallo (Ventre), Jerome, Monaghan (Smart), Codling (Kilheeney). Subs not used: Robinson, A Carden.