Grantham Town 0 Warrington Town 2

BOHAN Dixon was brought off the bench to produce the sort of game-changing moment he has made a habit of conjuring for Warrington Town.

We will not know how valuable the three points brought by his late goal at Grantham Town will be until much later in the season, but it will provde much-needed confidence as Yellows snapped a five-game winless run.

It allowed Paul Carden’s men to take full advantage of a superiority they had built up long before Grantham striker Remaye Campbell was sent off for a studs-up challenge, with Jack Mackreth’s late penalty adding a well-deserved exclamation point.

'We showed what we're about,' says Yellows boss Carden

Jack Mackreth scores a late penalty to give Yellows a two-goal lead. Picture by John Hopkins

This was the first meeting between the sides since Grantham ended Warrington’s promotion dreams with a play-off semi-final victory at Cantilever Park last season, but they have not fared as well so far this campaign.

Yellows were trying to play passing football, but that proved tricky on the bobbly pitch at The Meres.

They were having some joy, though, and Tony Gray should have given them an early lead.

He led an counter-attack and fed Mackreth, but the Warrington number nine could only fire straight at home keeper Theo Richardson when the ball was cut back to him.

The same player then thundered a long-range effort over the bar as Warrington bossed possession without testing Richardson.

At the other end, Grantham’s approach was direct but chances were at a premium.

They were reliant on set-pieces for their most threatening moments, but that was nearly the approach that brought an opener for Yellows.

Skipper-for-the-day Dave Raven volleyed goalwards from Alex Whittle’s ball into the box, but it was not too troubling for Richardson.

With no further goalmouth action before the break, a half that promised plenty for Yellows ended in stalemate.

Grantham’s second-half efforts were aided by the wind, but the first big moment of the half came for the visitors.

Dylan Vassallo charged into the area and the challenge by Ross Barrows that brought him down looked as cast-iron a penalty as there could be.

However, to everyone in yellow’s astoundment, the referee thought otherwise and booked the Yellows winger for simulation.

Gray’s next effort then summed up Town’s luck in front of goal as Richardson smothered it before gathering at the second attempt, milliseconds before Vassallo could tap in the rebound.

Mackreth then did brilliantly to win the ball back and put Warrington in a three-on-one attacking position – one which was again wasted as Gray hesitated in possession.

At the other end, Charlie Albison had been a virtual spectator in the Town goal but was called into action for the first time after the hour by Remaye Campbell’s long-range effort.

He had been Grantham’s most threatening outlet, but his game was ended with 15 minutes remaining.

His late tackle on Adam Carden was deemed worthy of a straight red card, and the visitors’ chances of victory heightened.

The onus was now on them to force the breakthrough, and they did just that.

Mackreth cut inside onto his left foot and delivered a teasing cross into the six-yard box from which Dixon could not miss.

The urgency that had strangely deserted Grantham for most of the game duly arrived, but it was to no avail.

Indeed, Yellows had the lust for more goals, as proved by Whittle’s desire to get to the ball before Ross Barrows, drawing a foul and a penalty which Mackreth swept home.

Warrington Town: Albinson, A Carden, Whittle, Garrity, Raven, Hughes, Mackreth, Beeley, Gray, Kirby (Reid), Vassallo (Dixon). Subs not used: Amis, Duggan, Evans