WARRINGTON Town came from behind to ensure their final home game of 2023 ended in victory.

Josh Amis headed home a late winner to finally break the resistance of Banbury United, who arrived at Cantilever Park with the National League North’s best away record.

It looked as though they would be extending it when Craig Hewitt volleyed them ahead midway through the first half, but Jay Harris curled home an exquisite equaliser to bring Mark Beesley’s side level before half time.

Town pushed and pushed for the winner, and it finally came when Mitch Duggan’s excellent cross was nodded home by skipper Amis to secure a third home league win in a row.

> Read Town boss Mark Beesley's post-match thoughts here

Read Matt Turner's match verdict below

THIS felt like a big game for Warrington Town – and they delivered.

With a tough run of fixtures to come either side of the new year, a home game against a side below them in the table was three points they couldn’t really afford to pass up.

A few games this season have followed a similar pattern – Town banging on the door but finding it shut by disciplined opposition but eventually, it was prised open by a piece of real quality.

Josh Amis’ header was expertly steered into the bottom corner, but the pinpoint cross from Mitch Duggan to find him was the real highlight and deserved the finish it got.

That was the last of three excellent goals in a pre-Christmas cracker which kept the bumper crowd of over 1,100 at Cantilever Park thankful they forwent the late present shopping.

Craig Hewitt’s opener was well-taken on the volley after a clever move had opened the hosts up, with Dan Atherton saving well from Tope Obadeyi but only palming it into the path of the goalscorer.

It capped a relatively bright start from the visitors who were defending the division’s best away record but from that point on, there was only one side in it.

Jay Harris’ leveller felt crucial in its timing more than anything – he placed a wonderful curling effort with a weaker foot into the top corner to level matters with 10 minutes still to play until half time.

That proved the cue for Town to step up the intensity to the point where you worried whether half time would stunt their momentum.

It didn’t as they continued to push, but it felt like it could end up being another one of those days as chances went begging.

Louis Hall sliced a clearance against his own post, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts produced a glaring miss at the far post and Puritans keeper Jack Harding made several good saves.

However, Amis ensured they would not rue those chances and made sure they put themselves in an excellent position with the season reaching its halfway point.

They find themselves way beyond halfway to reaching the theoretical safety margin of 50 points - they sit on 33 after today's win - and the player shortage that has plagued them all season is starting to ease.

Matty McDonald made his comeback from injury, with a lively 10-minute cameo marking his first appearance since the season's opening day while suspensions for Bohan Dixon and Connor Woods are on the verge of ending.

So while there may be a tough run coming up, they enter it in fine spirits.

Warrington Town: Atherton, Walker (Grivosti), White, Hannigan, Harris, Williams, Amis, Popoola (Clarke), Buckley-Ricketts (McDonald), Duggan, Wisdom. Subs not used: Goudie, Sinnott