Warrington Town 2-1 Whitby Town

BOHAN Dixon came off the bench to score a late winner as Warrington Town beat Whitby Town 2-1.

It looked the Yellows were heading for a yet another draw, but for the second week running, they struck late.

After the draw at Stafford last Saturday, this time it was the reward of two extra points which maintains their place in the play-offs, and closes the gap on South Shields, FC United and Lancaster above them, all of whom dropped points on the day.

A dominant first half display didn’t get the rewards it deserved for the Yellows, as the sides went in goalless at half time.

The first chance fell to Jack Banister in the seventh minute, his shot tipped over by Shane Bland, who was kept busy by the hosts throughout.

A couple of dangerous balls in from the right deserved better, and the best chance fell to Jordan Buckley on the stroke of half time, the striker blazing over after Bland flapped at a Mackreth cross that dropped right under the crossbar.

The Yellows have been criticised in recent weeks for not following up commanding first half performances after the break, and they got off to the worst possible start.

Paul Blackett, who has now scored in all six of his Whitby appearances on loan from Gateshead, stunned the hosts with a goal 24 seconds from the restart.

Fortunately for the hosts, the lead didn’t last long – David Raven and Mark Roberts keeping a corner alive for the former to crash in from eight yards two minutes later.

Whitby could have retaken the lead shortly after the hour mark, Roberts putting in a desperate block from Adam Gell, before Tony McMillan saved from the rebound.

At the other end, Ben Garrity headed straight at Bland.

Paul Carden rolled the dice and introduced Dixon, Will Harris and Josh Amis to chase the winner and eventually the pressure told.

Dixon picked up the ball on the left edge of the box, patiently stood up his man, worked his way inside and then hammered the ball in to the top corner for a crucial winner.

The Yellows, who have lost fewer games than any other side in the BetVictor Northern Premier Division, travel to Buxton on Tuesday night.

Warrington Town: McMillan, Raven, Warren, Beeley, Roberts, Sephton (Harris), Mackreth (Dixon), Garrity, Buckley (Amis), Brown, Banister. Unused subs: Duggan, Gray.

Whitby Town: Bland, Dixon, Horwood, Rowe, White, Sukar, Bythway (Wearmouth), Gell, Blackett, Tymon, Patton (Hopson). Unused subs: Kitchen, Rutherford, Dixon.

Pictures by John Hopkins