WARRINGTON Town’s mini-revival continued with a 1-0 win over Marine.
Michael Monaghan was the matchwinner in the second half with a goal he made and scored himself, in what is Warrington’s first ever win over the Crosby-based club.
It continues the Yellows unbeaten start to 2017, ahead of the visit of top of the table Blyth Spartans next Tuesday night.
Warrington made just one change to the starting 11 from Saturday’s dramatic 3-3 draw at Buxton, with free-kick hero Dylan Vassallo taking Danny Ventre’s place from the kick-off.
The relentless rain made it a difficult night for both players and spectators, though the pitch held up well.
Marine perhaps had the better of the early exchanges, striker Danny Mitchley firing one just wide of Tony McMillan’s left-hand post after 10 minutes.
The visitors thought they should have had a penalty midway through the first half, when John Shaw outmuscled Matty Hamilton, but the referee wasn’t interested.
There were some familiar faces among the Marine line-up, none more so than Lewis Field, the right back whose goal fired the Yellows to the famous FA Cup first round night against Exeter City some two and a bit years ago.
Another familiar face entered the fray in Michael Grogan on 24 minutes, replacing Robbie Threlfall, who hobbled off.
Warrington’s first real chance on goal followed soon after, Scott Harries making in roads down the right and setting up Vassallo, whose first time shot was instinctively stopped by Marine goalkeeper Calvin Hare’s trailing left hand.
It was to be a frustrating first half for Marine personnel wise, as they were forced to make a second substitution before half-time, with another former Yellows player, Peter Wylie, coming on for James Short.
They should, however, have been a goal up at half time when Mitchley’s clever touch set Hamilton free in the box, and the Yellows were thankful for ‘keeper McMillan’s anticipation in smothering the shot from close range.
Marine were forced in to their third and final change at half-time, Sean Myler replacing Field, who came worse off in a collision with Monaghan which resulted in the Warrington player being shown the yellow card.
Warrington started the second half much shaper than the first, captain James McCarten heading wide from Mitch Duggan’s right wing free-kick.
The hosts were having some luck from set pieces, another delivery from Duggan headed straight at the ‘keeper by Ruben Jerome.
Marine ‘keeper Hare survived a mishap on 55 minutes, spilling Harries’ low free-kick right at the feet of Colding, who could only divert the ball just wide of the empty goal as he fell.
The gamebreaking moment came just short of the hour mark, Monaghan dispossessing Adam Hughes on the edge of the centre circle and racing away, before finishing confidently past the ‘keeper one-on-one.
After taking the lead, Warrington weren’t threatened a great deal, the only real action McMillan faced was when Mitchley got a snap shot away from the edge of the box, but he got down well.
Marine could have snatched a point in injury time though, when Hughes’ looping header dropped just wide of the far post.
It is Warrington’s second league win of 2017, to go with the draws at Corby and Buxton.
Warrington Town: McMillan, Gumbs, Askew, Duggan, McCarten, Shaw, Harries, Vassallo (Ventre), Jerome, Monaghan (Smart), Codling (Kilheeney). Unused subs: Robinson, Carden.
Marine: Hare, Field (Myler), Nicholas, Threlfall (Grogan), Foley, Hughes, Lindfield, Thompson, Mitchley, Hamilton, Short (Wylie). Unused subs: Doherty, Porter.
Pictures John Hopkins
