WARRINGTON Town’s winless run was brought to an end on Saturday afternoon as they secured their first victory since August.
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts’ first-half goal proved sufficient to see off King’s Lynn Town, with the frontman latching onto Dec Walker’s fine pass to arrow a finish beyond Paul Jones in the Linnets goal.
Yellows did have several opportunities to extend their advantage either side of the goal, but were able to hold off the visitors to secure a much-needed victory.
> Here's what manager Mark Beesley had to say about the game
Read Matt Turner's verdict on the action here
HOWEVER it came, Warrington Town just needed a win from this game.
It may have been nervy towards the end as they slumped worryingly back towards their own goal, but in the end they got precisely what they deserved.
And everyone associated with the club will now hope the way in which they ended their six-match winless stretch will do them the world of good psychologically.
On plenty of occasions this season, they have not got what they deserved from games, the FA Cup exit at the hands of Curzon Ashton last time out being a casing point.
Their performance that day deserved at least a replay, but none of the 1,000-strong crowd inside Cantilever Park could argue their victory was not merited.
Indeed, they will feel they should have won by more than the Isaac Buckley-Ricketts goal that separated the sides.
That arrowed first-half finish capped off a tireless performance from the makeshift frontman and the same can be said of Connor Woods and Matty Grivosti either side of him, with both running themselves into the ground.
Woods would have had the goal his efforts deserved were it not for a barely believable save from King’s Lynn stopper Paul Jones. It was another “when things aren’t going your way” moment, but Buckley-Ricketts’ goal shortly afterwards provided the ultimate pressure release.
Buckley-Ricketts should have had at least one more after the break and as King’s Lynn started to monopolise possession, you wondered if it may end up costing them.
However, goalkeeper Dan Atherton was barely troubled and the reshuffled three-man defence looked strong and organised throughout.
On the right of that triumvirate was Andre Wisdom – the former Liverpool defender who came straight in for a full debut. He had not played 90 minutes for more than two years, but immediately looked like the player of significantly higher calibre that he is.
However long he ends up staying at Town, it should be enjoyed as even though he appeared to be playing in second gear in this game, he still looked so very comfortable.
Peter Clarke looked so much more comfortable in the middle of the three and exuded composure, with Mitch Duggan having a strong game at right wing-back and unfortunate to be denied a goal by the offside flag late on.
Having leaked goals at an alarming rate of late, the clean sheet will have been as welcome as the three points as their remarkable run of results when scoring first continued – they are unbeaten in 35 games when they have opened the scoring, winning 30 of them.
The hope now is that this result and performance kicks them on after a two-week break to get some much-needed rest.
Warrington Town: Atherton, Walker, White, Hannigan, Woods (Bennett), Williams, Buckley-Ricketts, Duggan, Wisdom, Grivosti, Clarke. Subs not used: Smalley, Gill, Goudie
All pictures by Sean Walsh
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here