THEY may have to take the long road to promotion, but Warrington Town certainly got off on the right foot.

It was perhaps fitting that Ben Garrity – plucked from local league football in Liverpool this season – who made the difference with two almost carbon-copy goals to see off Nantwich Town.

They must now travel to South Shields for the play-off final, but it is a trip that should hold no fear on this evidence.

An own-goal from Nantwich keeper Lloyd Allinson and Tony Gray’s injury-time clincher – either side of Louis Barnes’ red card – put some deserved gloss on the scoreline in front of almost 1,500 people at Cantilever Park.

> 'My best night at this club,' says Yellows boss Carden

Despite dominating the first half, they went into half time behind – the first sign from above that it may not be their night – as Callum Saunders’ wonderful strike separated the sides at the break.

Nantwich sensed a shock, but they did not bank on a resurgent home side.

Paul Carden surprised a few with his team selection – with a change of shape to a three-man midfield of Shaun Beeley alongside Ben Garrity and Robbie Evans.

They aimed to utilise the pace of Jack Mackreth and Jack Dunn out wide and together with Tony Gray, they hassled and harried the visiting defence from the get-go.

Mass panic reigned in the Nantwich ranks, but they weathered the early storm and as soon as they got a foothold, they struck.

Town failed to properly clear a free kick and when the ball was put back into the mixer, Saunders lashed a stunning scissor kick beyond Tony McMillan.

Naturally perhaps, the goal knocked Carden’s men off their stride but once they regained their composure, the chances started to come.

They continued to have joy down the flanks and it so nearly brought them a leveller.

Mackreth worked a clever overlap with Mitch Duggan and the full-back’s cross found Gray.

The top scorer looked destined to hit the net, but his volley was saved brilliantly at point-blank range by Lloyd Allinson.

> Yellows 4 Nantwich 1 as it happened

Nantwich’s custodian could do nothing before the break as Robbie Evans’ effort beat him, but a defender got back to desperately scramble the ball off the line as the visitors held on until the break.

Carden ruled the dice at the break – sacrificing Duggan in order to bring the enigmatic Bohan Dixon off the bench.

They continued to pound away but the green wall remained impenetrable.

However, nine minutes after the restart, that changed.

Dunn floated a teasing corner into the box and what Garrity’s header lacked in power, it more than made up for in precision as it nestled into the bottom corner.

Warrington Guardian:

Ben Garrity heads home for Yellows. Picture by John Hopkins

> Re-live a memorable night at Cantilever Park in pictures

It was time for Yellows to seize the moment and push.

From Dixon’s superb lay-off, Alex Whittle burst into the box and forced Allinson into a save as defending got desperate again from the visitors.

Dunn then almost caught Allinson out but his wide free kick flew just over the bar.

Then, after Dunn had again tested Allinson from a set piece, déjà vu struck.

The left winger floated in the set piece and Garrity sent another header goalwards that took an age to drop into the top corner and sent Cantilever Park delirious.

Nantwich threw men forward, but it was Yellows who continued to have the better of the chances before Dunn made his presence felt again.

His wicked free kick bounced off the bar, hit a luckless Allinson and bounced into the bottom corner.

Warrington Guardian:

Lloyd Allinson watches Jack Dunn's free kick hit the bar before it bounces off him and into the net. Picture by John Hopkins

Things were now desperate for Nantwich – with McMillan having to scramble away from on the line – and that was typified by the challenge that saw Barnes dismissed.

Already on a yellow card, the left-back barged down a charging Dunn to leave the referee with little option.

With spaces now wide open, Yellows took the chance to add a deserved coup de grace.

Dixon – so influential off the bench – stormed down the right and produced the perfect cross for Gray to volley home and spark wild scenes of celebration

Warrington Town: McMillan, Duggan (Dixon), Whittle, Garrity (Vassallo), Roberts, Raven, Beeley, Evans, Gray, Dunn, Mackreth (Benjamin). Subs not used: Amis, Cusani