Warrington Town 2 Radcliffe 1

As well as a positive result, manager Paul Carden was looking for a vast improvement in attitude from his side following the ending of their perfect start to the league season.

In many ways, then, this was the perfect riposte.

While there will no doubt be games in which they will be more expansive in attack, the resilience they showed to hold on for a win over Radcliffe was quite superb.

In a second half that was pretty much one-way traffic towards their goal, they stood remarkably strong.

Yellows keeper Charlie Albinson makes one of a number of impressive saves against Radcliffe. Picture by Darren Murphy

“It wasn’t one for the purists but as a win goes, you have to put it down to grit,” Carden said.

“We spoke before the game about doing the hard yards. They’ve got handfuls up front who cause problems and don’t disappoint when you put it to them.

“They were playing in the first half after we scored. They knocked it about a bit which I thought we encouraged them to do.

“They’re a tough team who play a tough style to cope with. You have to cope with it and we did.

“They had us penned in our half in the second half and sometimes if you can’t affect the ball higher up the pitch, you’ve got to defend your box as a unit and I thought we did.”

The hard yards going forward were done in the first half as Town went into the break in control.

Much like Mickleover last week, they made a positive start and were rewarded with an early lead as Mark Roberts’ header from a corner was blocked by the hand of a Radcliffe defender.

Once the penalty was given, there was little doubt about the outcome as Bohan Dixon confidently sent Boro keeper Cameron Belford the wrong way.

Bohan Dixon puts Town ahead from the penalty spot. Pictures by Darren Murphy

There were signs of Radcliffe pushing back, but nothing to really trouble a Town defence that had not been beaten before last week.

In a half shy of quality at either end, it took a real moment of magic to illuminate it.

After Belford rushed way outside of his area to tackle Josh Amis, he could only clear the ball to Luke Duffy.

Still a fair way out but with an empty net to hit, the youngster’s aim was true and he delighted as his lofted effort dropped into the net.

“He tried one before he scored where he was just unfortunate that it dropped over,” Carden said.

“We’ve seen bits and pieces of Duffers – he had a great game against South Shields and he’s played well again today.

“It’s important we don’t flog him because he’s still learning the game and the level.

“He’ll be a lot better to have played in that type of game today. He won’t have experienced that kind of physicality before.”

Luke Duffy celebrates his goal with Michael Rose and Matty Taylor. Picture by Darren Murphy

Town were in control, but Radcliffe roared out of the traps after the break aided by some positive substitutions.

Luca Navarro brought craft in midfield and Cole Hall power up front to add to the height of Andy Owens and the trickery of Larnell Cole and Jean-Louis Akpa-Apro.

Having been largely redundant before the break, Yellows goalkeeper Charlie Albinson really earned his corn after it.

After flying to parry a goalbound long-range effort from ex-Yellow Simon Lenighan, his save to deny Hall from point-blank range was top-drawer.

Radcliffe peppered his goal but found a Town stopper in fine form.

Charlie Albinson denies Kole Hall with a superb reflex save. Picture by Darren Murphy

“Charlie’s made two really good saves,” Carden said.

“The second one was a top reaction – I thought it was a goal to be honest but he’s got a finger to it.”

When he was beaten, the post came to his rescue after Navarro had curled an effort beyond him.

However, there was little he could do when Akpa-Apro stole in to convert a cross and give Radcliffe the way back into the game their play deserved.

Now it became a real test of the mettle as the visitors tightened the screw.

Every time Town got the ball clear, it kept coming straight back but critically, they stood strong.

Mark Roberts and Matty Regan headed and blocked everything while full-backs Mitch Duggan and Matty Taylor, both of whom were brought into the starting line-up as changes from last week, were also outstanding.

“Everyone played a part,” Carden said.

“The lads who came on – Jordan Buckley chased everything and caused problems, Joel Amado shored his side up and Callum Grogan allowed the back four a bit more time to concentrate on their shape rather than getting occupied.

“The lad who came on in midfield caused us a lot of problems – he drifted from side to side and pulled people around.

“We’ve withstood a good test today.”

Pictures by Darren Murphy