VIDEO: WARRINGTON Town came from behind to move another step closer to the league title with a 2-1 win over Ossett Town.
The lowly visitors, unbeaten in their last five games, proved a tough opponent for Warrington, who fell behind inside 12 minutes.
But two goals in three minutes before the interval ensured another three points for the hosts to preserve their healthy 19 point lead at the top.
Ossett took the lead with the first chance of the match, striker Danny Frost hitting a peach of a shot from outside the box.
It had been a sluggish start from Warrington until a positive run forward by stand-in left-back Phil Dean, deputising for Michael Lea, set up Scott Metcalfe for a chance that was saved low by the ‘keeper.
A double-salvo either side of the half hour mark ultimately proved enough for Warrington.
Dean’s long range shot bounced awkwardly in front of Thomas Beaurepaire and he could only tee it up for Gerard Kinsella to nod home from the rebound.
And after a succession of corners, Danny Ventre’s excellent short ball in to the front post was flicked in off the keeper by the league’s top goalscorer Ciaran Kilheeney.
The visitors had two chances to restore parity before the break, Frost nipping in to rob the ball from Danny O’Donnell and then hitting a shot with the outside of his right foot just over the bar.
A rare dropped ball was won by Ventre but ricocheted back to his own goal off Chris Gahgan, and that enabled Ossett to create an overlap for Jack Siddall, who blazed over from a good position.
The second half was probably more nervy than Warrington would have liked, although the visitors didn’t really create much in terms of clear cut chances.
Warrington nearly made the points safe on 69 minutes when James McCarten headed Ventre’s corner goalwards, only to see it headed off the line by a defender.
Substitute Steven Gillespie missed the best chance of the second half 10 minutes later, taking in a strong pass from Ventre and then dragging his shot wide.
Warrington held on to claim their 27th win of the season ahead of the trip to near neighbours Prescot Cables next Saturday.
Kilheeney heads home – Pictures John Hopkins
Gerard Kinsella heads home Pictures John Hopkins
Chris Gahgan forces a save from the keeper – Picture John Hopkins
Joe Holt challenges for the ball – Picture John Hopkins
Substitute Steven Gillespie looks for a way through – Picture John Hopkins
Warrington Town: Wills, Brown, Dean, Ventre, McCarten, O’Donnell, Gahgan (Holt), Kinsella (Beattie), Kilheeney, Deegan (Gillespie), Metcalfe. Unused subs: Robinson, Turner.
Ossett Town: Beaurepaire, Hawsworth, L Schofield, Ridley, Assenso, Rogers, Siddall (J Schofield), Monfredi (Brown), Peterson (Freeman), Frost, Metcalfe. Unused subs: Farnhill, Kilner.
