Alfreton Town 1 Warrington Town 1, National League North

Matty Grivosti’s goal on the stroke of half time allowed Mark Beesley’s men to come away from Alfreton Town with a share of the spoils as he prodded in the rebound after Isaac Buckley-Ricketts had hit the post.

The in-form hosts, who were looking for a fifth straight win, had taken the lead in fortuitous circumstances when Peter Clarke headed past his own goalkeeper from Adam Lund’s long throw.

> Read what Town boss Mark Beesley had to say about the game here

Matty Grivosti competed for the ball in the second half having earlier scored Town's equaliser (Image: Bill Wheatcroft)

Read Matt Turner's verdict on the game below

AS Mark Beesley said in his post-match interview, this is a game Warrington Town would have lost a few weeks ago.

However, coming back to head home from a difficult away trip with a point shows some signs that they are starting to get a little more streetwise at this level.

And while they may have lost the game a few weeks ago, there could be a case to say this was a game they may have ended up winning had it arrived in a few weeks’ time.

When confidence starts to grow that they can not only soak up what rivals throw at them but impose themselves in reverse, they perhaps would have been more able to capitalise on the openings they did have.

Anything aerial was swallowed but by a giant Alfreton side but when Yellows got down the sides of their opposition and attacked them on the floor, they found plenty of joy.

That said, openings were few and far between on both sides in what was a highly scrappy game that was low on quality.

Alfreton’s plan was clear – get the ball forward as quickly as possible to test out a rejigged Town backline shorn of Tom Hannigan’s services through injury.

Unfortunate own goal aside as he glanced Adam Lund’s massive throw-in beyond Dan Atherton, Peter Clarke dealt with the aerial assault admirably alongside Andre Wisdom, who was once again a leader and showed his considerable expertise.

Peter Clarke clears the ball with Andre Wisdom and Alfreton's Jake Day in close attendance (Image: Bill Wheatcroft)

Lund’s long throws were the home side’s main weapon but having scored with its first use, they failed to seriously threaten their visitors with it again and Atherton went largely untested in goal.

Indeed, he found the confidence to step out and play a laser-guided ball over the top for Isaac Buckley-Ricketts to run onto.

His radar was absolutely on point and while Buckley-Ricketts’ was slightly askew as his effort came back off the inside of the post, Matty Grivosti was able to bundle home the rebound.

It was a game that would have been highly frustrating to lose, but they found a way back and against a side that had won their previous four matches before this one, that is no mean feat.

They are certainly learning but now, their task is to grow.

Warrington Town: Atherton, Walker, White, Woods, Williams, Dixon, Buckley-Ricketts, Duggan, Wisdom, Grivosti (Buckley), Clarke. Subs not used: Goudie, Hannigan, Gill, Bennett

The returning Jordan Buckley attacks a cross in the second half (Image: Bill Wheatcroft)