WARRINGTON Town gave National League North title favourites Scunthorpe United a major fright before falling to defeat on Saturday afternoon.
Mark Beesley’s men more than played their part in a well-contested game at Glanford Park, with home stopper Ross Fitzsimons being forced into three superb saves to keep them off the scoresheet.
In the end, however, they were undone in slightly unfortunate circumstances shortly after half time – Dan Atherton made an excellent stop to tip Jacob Butterfield’s effort onto the crossbar, but could not stop substitute Callum Roberts from nodding home the rebound.
> 'We deserved a draw at least' - Town boss reacts to Scunthorpe defeat
Read Matt Turner's verdict on the game below
THEY say things tend to balance themselves out in football – and this week in the life of Warrington Town is a casing point.
In midweek, they escaped from Darlington with a point they barely deserved, with Connor Woods rescuing them from defeat late on.
On this occasion, they were left to reflect upon what might have been following an excellent yet fruitless display at the division’s promotion favourites.
Sighs of relief were abound amid the claret and blue horde when the referee blew the final whistle after their well-fancied side hobbled unconvincingly over the line.
In the end, a spell just after half time in which they upped the intensity proved decisive, with Callum Roberts heading home the only goal after Dan Atherton had tipped Jacob Butterfield’s long-range effort onto the crossbar and into his path.
However, that was arguably the extent of Atherton’s serious involvement in the game and were it not for his opposite number Ross Fitzsimons, Town would have rode home from arguably the biggest individual league game in their history with at least a draw.
On at least three occasions, the Iron number one was required to make excellent saves to keep the visitors out as they showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion and the 3,500-strong crowd at Glanford Park.
The last of them – a stunning reflex stop to deny Josh Amis in the second half – was exceptional and the fact he took home the home side’s official man of the match award tells you all you need to know.
In order to cause their hosts problems, Yellows needed to be disciplined both with and without the ball – and they were.
They sat in a patient shape and waited for their moments, and looked dangerous when they came with Bohan Dixon enjoying perhaps his best game of the campaign to date in a more advanced midfield role.
And while there may have been worries about how Town would cope with the National League North’s leading goalscorers without Andre Wisdom in their defence, the veteran duo of Peter Clarke and Tom Hannigan shone.
Maintaining this level of performance going forward will surely see them maintain or even extend the gap between themselves and relegation trouble, and that will now be the challenge.
While they leave with nothing in terms of points, Mark Beesley and his players can do so with their heads held high.
Warrington Town: Atherton, Walker (Bennett), White, Hannigan, Woods, Williams, Amis, Dixon, Buckley-Ricketts (Grivosti), Duggan, Clarke. Subs not used: Goudie, Gill, Sinnott
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