Matt Grivosti double fires Yellows past Stalybridge Celtic

Warrington Town consolidated their place in the Northern Premier League play-off places with a 3-0 win away at Stalybridge Celtic.

Matt Grivosti and Luke Duffy scored two goals in three second half minutes to make the points safe after Grivosti’s first half opener.

It was the second time this season that the Yellows had beaten Stalybridge 3-0 and it was an important three points as the end of the season approaches.

Playing down the infamous slope at Bower Fold in the first half, the Yellows took the lead on seven minutes.

A clever ball forward by Jay Harris was chased by Ben Hough, and Celtic ‘keeper Grant Shenton came out of his goal to punch and inadvertently wiped out his own man in Warrington-born Keenan Quansah.

The loose ball fell for Grivosti, who diverted it goalwards and it found the back of the net despite the efforts of defender Steve O’Halloran, who could only hook his attempted clearance in to the roof of the net.

The Yellows enjoyed an element of control in the first half without creating a glut of chances, Grivosti coming closest to a second when his header was tipped wide at full stretch by Shenton.

A nice move involving Harris again set up James Baillie in the box, and the keeper saved well from the angle.

The second half was a different story though, as Stalybridge stepped up a gear and had the Yellows on the back foot.

Justin Johnson a long way along the byline before being blocked by Sean Williams, and Quansah ought to have done better with a free header from a corner.

But having rode the storm, without Dan Atherton having made a save, a quickfire double ended the match.

Grivosti latched on to a long ball forward and his cross looking for Harris settled for substitute Duffy to fire home left-footed.

And three minutes later, Josh Amis held the ball up well in midfield and slipped a lovely through ball between the centre halves for Grivosti to latch on to, round the ‘keeper and find the back of the net.

Amis could have got on the scoresheet himself late on, Shenton saving well at the near post after he was released by Bohan Dixon.

The Yellows return to Cantilever Park next Saturday for the visit of Ashton United.

Stalybridge Celtic: Shenton, Adigun, O’Halloran, Wedgbury, Quansah, Killock, McLintock, Jones (Fitzmartin), Doyle, Harris, Johnson. Unused subs: Kharufa, Ubah, Grewal, Leach.

Warrington Town: Atherton, Baillie, Coulton, Harris, Regan, Gumbs, Buckley-Ricketts (Duffy), Williams (Duggan), Amis, Hough (Dixon), Grivosti. Unused subs: Mols, Mackreth.

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