Grivosti double fires Warrington Town to away win

Warrington Town held off a spirited second half fightback from Grantham Town to make it five games unbeaten and go fifth in the table.

Matt Grivosti came off the bench early on to score a first half brace to put the Yellows in command at half time.

A treble sub by Grantham boss Carlton Palmer helped spark a fightback by the bottom of the table hosts but the Yellows had enough to win the three points.

For the second week running, the Yellows lost an attacking player to a nasty looking head injury in the first half.

Just nine minutes were on the clock when Luke Duffy, handed his first start for seven games, was clattered by Henry Eze and forced off with blood pouring from his nose, a cut that required stitches.

It led to Grivosti’s early introduction and he soon set Jack Mackreth free down the right, the winger cutting inside and forcing the first save of the game from Grantham debutant goalkeeper Josh Render, tipping over the bar.

Render denied Jordan Buckley with a one-handed stop before Grantham started to find their feet, Jonathan Wafula hitting the outside of the post from a corner.

A minute later, the Yellows took the lead.

A poor pass in midfield gifted the Yellows possession and it bounced forward towards the ‘keeper, Render’s clearance lashed against the on-rushing Buckley and sitting up for Grivosti to race in and tap home from 10 yards.

If the ‘keeper was unfortunate for that goal, he had to hold his hands up for the second – Grivosti was released by Buckley and cut inside on to his left, hit a shot straight at the on-loan Sheffield Wednesday man, who let the ball go right through his arms and legs for 2-0.

45 | Good defensive work by Harris and then Buckley plays a lovely ball forward for Grivosti, his touch takes him a bit wide, but then he cuts inside and shoots left footed and it goes straight through the 'keeper's arms and legs. 0-2. pic.twitter.com/7CqbttiSW0

— Warrington Town FC (@theyellows) October 23, 2021

With just two points at home all season, there looked like no way back for the Gingerbreads.

Three changes at half-time tried to spark them in to life, but it could have been 3-0 five minutes in to the second half.

The referee initially awarded a penalty following a foul on Buckley, only to be overruled by his assistant, and from the subsequent free-kick, Williams forced a save from Render.

One of the changes had seen Tierry Latty-Fairweather in a further advanced position on the left, and he slipped in Shane Clarke inside the box, his ball across the face diverted in to his own net by Mark Roberts.

That breathed life in to an afternoon that had looked to be relatively routine for the Yellows.

Williams’ low shot was tipped wide and Mackreth twice forced Render in to a save.

Although Grantham weren’t able to create any real clear cut opportunities, the risk was always there while the Yellows couldn’t find a third, the closest they came was when Lee Shaw glanced wide a header.

Substitute Josh Amis could have made sure of the points late on, crashing a half volley against the crossbar, but in the end two was enough.

Grantham Town: Render, Williamson, Latty-Fairweather, Clarke, Eze (Shrimpton), Adelekan, Adeymir, Grice (Wright), Shaw, Wafula, Kianga (Parkin). Unused subs: Modest, Millen.