WARRINGTON Town got their league campaign back on track with an impressive 1-3 victory at Harrogate Railway Athletic.
Manager Joey Dunn handed a debut to Matty Cross at left back, following his signing from local rivals Salford City and re-introduced Louis Corrigan to the subs bench, following a long lay off due to injury.
It was Town that started the brightest of the two sides, having the majority of possession and pressing forward, however, it was Railway who had the best early chance, striker Luke Durham getting played through, before rounding Chris Oldfield in the Town goal, only to shoot into the side netting from a tight angle.
After this escape, Town re-established their control of the game, with top scorer Anthony Hickey seeing his powerful shot palmed onto the crossbar by Railway keeper Craig Parry, who quickly gathered the boucing ball. Chris Gahgan went close to putting Town ahead soon after, narrowly missing Jamie Henders' teasing centre.
The home side still looked dangerous on the break and Railway midfielder Liam Gray forced a fine save from Oldfield, before colleague Paul Beesley missed a golden chance to give Railway the lead, reaching a throughball before the Town defence, before bearing down on Oldfield only to poke narrowly wide of the target.
Within three minutes of this let off, Town deservedly took the lead, Anthony Hickey reacting well after Cross' header to loop a header of his own over Parry and into the net.
Once again, Town had to be wary, and Gray forced a fine save from Oldfield with a shot from long range. With half time quickly approaching, Town looked to add to their lead, with Collins firing over at full stretch from an excellent pull back from full back Mike Duffy, before Henders picked up a bouncing ball in the area, only to see his angled drive, scrape the outside of the far post.
Right on half time, Town did go further ahead, Allan Collins reaching a long clearance before the on rushing Parry to head home into the unguarded net.
Town once again started the second half the brighter of the two teams, and could have gone further ahead in the 55th minute, when Adam Wade saw his shot blocked only for Collins to see his follow up also blocked as Town piled the pressure on the Railway defence.
Two minutes later Town added to their lead, Allan Collins picking up a bouncing ball 25 yards out, before unleashing a dipping half volley that flew just under the crossbar and gave Parry absolutely no chance. With a three goal cushion, Town began to play with more freedom, Collins shooting into the side netting after good build up play by his colleagues. Collins went close to his hat trick soon after, narrowly stabbing over from Gahgan's pass.
The introduction of Louis Corrigan from the bench in the 68th minute, after a long lay off with a knee injury, drew a loud cheer from the travelling support inside Station View.
Warrington twice went close shortly after, Henders shooting wide before Wade saw his deflected shot saved at full length by Parry. With 15 minutes to go, Town thought they had gone further ahead, Henders seeing his effort ruled out for offside.
With ten minutes to go, the home side pulled a goal back, Beesley seeing his powerful drive well saved, only for substitute Byron Littlefair to react quickest, to slot home the rebound to give the home side a chance of an unlikely comeback.
The home side went close a minute later, when Oldfield missed a back pass only to see the ball go into the side netting. Despite this spell of pressure, it was Town who went closest to adding to the score, Hickey lobbing narrowly wide of the upright, with Parry quickly backpedalling, before the same player shot across the face as Town hit the hosts on the break.
 
Town: Oldfield, Duffy, Matty Cross (D), Humphreys, Hardwick, Wade, Hamid, Collins (Jackson, 85), Henders (Thompson, 78), Hickey, Gahgan (Corrigan, 68), subs not used: Brown, Shipton

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Next up is a third visit of the season to Prescot Cables, this time in the league cup on Tuesday evening, kick off 7.45pm.