Match Report: Warrington Town 0-0 Witton Albion

Warrington Town’s pursuit of top spot came to an end as they were left frustrated by Cheshire rivals Witton Albion at the Winner Recruitment Stadium.

Despite having the majority of the chances, the Yellows could not find a way past an inspired Greg Hall, who superbly denied Dylan Vassallo and Marcus Cusani.

The result, coupled with other scores, means that Town drop to third ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Buxton FC.

With a second game in just 48 hours, Paul Carden opted to make one change to his starting line-up as Alex Whittle took the place of Adam Hughes, while Shaun Beeley returned to the bench.

Warrington made a bright start to the game, but their only real opening in the first quarter was snuffed out by Matty Devine, who came across well to cut out Vassallo’s attempted through-ball to Jack Mackreth.

The visitors did manage a shot themselves after 26 minutes as Albion captain Rob Hopley fired well over the top, while at the other end, Vassallo met Jack Dunn’s cross but headed straight at Hall.

The game remained evenly poised going into halt-time, up until Vassallo had a huge chance to open the scoring three minutes before the break. Having controlled Tony Gray’s cushioned header in the area, the 19-year-old tried to side-foot home but saw his strike smothered by the onrushing keeper.

The second half started in a hotly-contested manner and Warrington had a chance to test the Witton stopper five minutes in. After Ben Garrity was hauled down on the edge of the area, Tony Gray stepped up but couldn’t repeat his Stalybridge heroics, his free-kick from the edge of the area well blocked by the visiting wall.

Town continued to press with a succession of corners and long throws and they nearly broke the deadlock shortly after the hour. However, the newly-introduced Bohan Dixon headed just wide after meeting Vassallo’s delightful in-swinging corner.

Vassallo took matters into his hands shortly after, and although he mustered space for a shot in the area, his fizzing left-footed drive was palmed away by Hall once again.

With Witton defending valiantly, space was hard to come by for the Yellows. However, they had a huge chance to win the game on 87 minutes. Substitute Cusani did superbly to dribble his way past Will Jones on the left side of the area, but his cutback was fired over from 10 yards out by the unmarked Gray, with the ball taking a horrible bobble prior to his strike.

Shortly after, Vassallo delivered a teasing ball in from the right which Bohan Dixon headed just over, before Cusani expertly cut in on his right foot and saw a curling shot palmed aside by Hall.

As injury time arrived, Town continued to go all out in pursuit of a winner, but the closest they came was through Mark Roberts, who met Vassallo’s cross at the near post but could only divert his stab just wide of goal, with the help of a deflection.

Warrington Town: McMillan, Duggan (McCarthy 80), Roberts, Raven, Whittle, Garrity, Evans, Mackreth (Cusani 68), Vassallo, Dunn (Dixon 68), Gray

Subs not used: Benjamin, Beeley

Witton Albion: Hall, Lingouba, Devine, Wardle, Offord, Smart, McKenna, Owens, Hopley, Doyle (Foley 55), Abadaki (57)

Subs not used: Gardner, Neild

Attendance: 733