WARRINGTON Town slumped to their third defeat in a row, losing 1-0 at home to Whitby Town.
Dale Hopson’s second half goal was enough for the visitors, who only managed one away win in the whole of last season.
Warrington were once again toothless in attack as they failed to score for the second time in four days, following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Grantham.
That defeat prompted manager Stuart Mellish to make two changes to his starting line-up, with Michael Grogan and Ryan Winder called up in place of Liam Turner and Scott Harries, both of whom dropped to the bench.
It failed to make much of a difference, and the Yellows boss was dealt an unexpected blow midway through the first half when inspirational midfielder Danny Ventre was forced off injured, replaced by Harries.
Neither side had created a great deal by the time that substitution happened on the half hour mark, with Scott Metcalfe’s 20-yard free-kick comfortably saved by Shane Bland.
The hosts had a few glimpses of goal in the remainder of the first half, skipper Ciaran Kilheeney heading a loose ball just over the bar with Bland stranded, and then Grogan headed over Winder’s free-kick.
The pattern of the game didn’t change much after the break, with some sloppy play in midfield enabling Callum Martin to stride forward and shoot well wide.
Whitby then grabbed their goal on 65 minutes. Warrington backed off too much and a neat interchange between Michael Roberts and Matthew Tymon resulted in Dale Hopson’s side footed shot finding the top corner courtesy of a deflection.
As was the case on Saturday, the setback failed rejuvenate the Yellows.
Instead, it was Whitby who looked the more likely in the final quarter. Hopson ran at and beat James McCarten before shooting in to the side netting, while Roberts should have made sure minutes from time after a two-on-one break.
Warrington have a chance to bounce back with their third successive home game on Saturday, against Matlock Town. That is followed by a trip to Marine on Bank Holiday Monday.
Warrington Town: Wills, Grogan, Clancy (Turner), O’Donnell, McCarten, Ventre (Harries), Winder, Kinsella, Kilheeney, Dean (Deegan), Metcalfe. Unused subs: Rudge, Gillespie.
Whitby Town: Bland, Martin, McWilliams, Weledji, Poole, May, Gell, Hopson (Round), Roberts (Hume), Tymon (Bythway), Snaith. Unused subs: Park, Dawson.
