Yellows finish 2021 in style

WARRINGTON Town returned to winning ways with a 4-1 win away at Witton Albion.

Jay Harris scored his first two goals for the club as the Yellows overcame an early goal by the hosts.

It means they end 2021 in the play-off places in the Northern Premier League, ahead of a New Year’s Day date with high-flying Bamber Bridge.

James Lawrie fired Witton, playing their first game since November 20, into a third minute lead.

He picked the ball up in space and was allowed to shoot from 25 yards out, squeezing the ball low inside Dan Atherton’s left hand post.

In an open game, the equaliser came on 16 minutes. The excellent Jack Mackreth played a one-two with Matt Regan and Regan’s cross set up a sitter for Mark Roberts – only for the centre half to miskick and be left a relieved man when the ball bounced in off Josh Amis, despite protests from the home side for offside.

Matt Grivosti forced a save from Greg Hall but the hosts responded well to the equaliser without really troubling Atherton.

Will Jones hit a rising free-kick over the bar and then debutant right-back Joe Ferguson shot over on the bounce.

Grivosti tracked back for a crucial interception in the box to stop Callum Saunders’ cross reaching former Yellows midfielder Jewad Jebrin at the back post.

Against the run of play, the Yellows took the lead. James Baillie’s awkward looking cross was diverted goalwards by Harris and it squirmed in past ‘keeper Greg Hall.

The Yellows were perhaps fortunate to take a 2-1 lead in to half time, but there was no question over who dominated the second half.

The visitors set the tempo from the whistle and forced a succession of corners until eventually one fell to Harris, who lashed in to the roof of the net from 10 yards.

After substitute Mitch Duggan had denied Isaac Baldwin, Hall denied the Yellows a fourth when he clawed away Amis’ shot one handed.

Mark Beesley’s men didn’t have to wait much longer though, and were given a penalty on 69 minutes when Rop Hopley collided with Sean Williams.

Williams, who missed his last spotkick in the draw at Gainsborough, made no mistake to wrap up the points.

Witton Albion: Hall, Ferguson, Baldwin, Wardle, Hopley, Lawrie, Jebrin, Foley, Jones, Saunders, McKenna (Agbozo). Unused subs: Paterson, McNulty, Gill.

Warrington Town: Atherton, Baillie, Regan (Duggan), Harris (Hough), Roberts, Gumbs, Mackreth (Duffy), Williams, Amis, Dixon, Grivosti. Unused subs: Murray, Speare.