Frustration continues for Jekyll and Hyde Yellows

VIDEO: IT proved to be another frustrating Saturday afternoon for Warrington Town as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Workington.

Yet again, the Yellows failed to capitalise on an impressive midweek win and consolidate their place in the Evo-Stik Premier League play-offs.

Goals either side of half-time, the second coming from the penalty spot, were enough for the Cumbrians who recorded a second win over Stuart Mellish’s men this season having knocked the Yellows out of the FA Cup last month.

It was a set back similar to last weekend’s defeat to Skelmersdale, which had followed a superb away win at Blyth, with this defeat following on from Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat of top of the table Buxton.

An uninspiring opening 20 minutes saw little in the shape of clear cut chances, though the Yellows could just about boast of having the better of the play.

That mattered little though on the half hour mark, when right-back Jacob Simpson curled in a lovely left-foot cross in that danger zone between defenders and goalkeeper, and Elliot Newby was able to ghost in and nod in to the bottom corner for 1-0.

The first goal didn’t do much to change the pattern of play, with the Yellows ending the first half the strongest following a succession of corners which didn’t come to anything.

As Warrington failed to threaten Workington goalkeeper Aaron Taylor, their own Jon Worsnop gleefully caught the ball on his line after Peter Wylie had headed against team-mate James McCarten.

Worsnop then made a smart two-handed stop to his right to deny left-back David Symington, who was allowed to cut inside a long way before shooting at goal right-footed.

The game was momentarily held up as Workington Joseph McGee was helped off with what looked like a dislocated elbow, and moments later his replacement Robbie Hebson had a shot blocked on the edge of the box.

On the hour mark, a slide rule pass split the Warrington defence and nippy striker Nathan Waterston was able to take it round Worsnop, but couldn’t steady himself and, unbalanced, he screwed his shot over the bar with the goal gaping.

It would be the hosts that would have the ball in the net next, Metcalfe pinching it off the goalkeeper close to the goal line after he had rushed to keep in a back pass and then dribbling it in to the goal.

That prompted a debate between the officials, who appeared unsure as to what to give, and in the end they reached probably the correct solution, which was to penalise Metcalfe for kicking the ball out of Taylor’s hands while he was on the floor.

The visitors rubbed salt in that wound with a double whammy just two minutes later, when Scott Allison was felled in the box by John Shaw.

Up stepped Symington, and his driven penalty to Worsnop’s left was too powerful for the ‘keeper to keep out.

Warrington seemed incapable of influencing a change to the pattern of the game, and Worsnop had to be alert to prevent it becoming 3-0, saving well with his legs from Hebson.

But the Yellows did make a game of it, pulling a goal back on 78 minutes. Substitute Scott Harries’ high cross was headed down by Andy Nicholas and Michael Grogan, starting with injured pair Danny Ventre and Gerard Kinsella on the sidelines, diverted the ball over the keeper with his back to goal.

It took more than half of the remaining time for Warrington to truly camp in opposition territory, McCarten and Simon Lenighan both hitting efforts well over.

In truth, they never created anything of note and certainly nothing to trouble Taylor, as the Cumbrians made the trip back north with the three points.

Warrington return to action on Tuesday night, with a trip to high-flying Rushall Olympic (7.45pm kick-off).

Warrington Town: Worsnop, Wylie, Nicholas, Lenighan, McCarten, Shaw, Gillespie (Harries), Grogan, Kilheeney, Peers, Metcalfe. Unused subs: O’Donnell, Smart, Platt, Wills.

Workington: Taylor, Simpson, Symington, May, Smith, Wilson, Allison, McGee (Hebson), Waterston (Henderson), Newby, Tinnion. Unused subs: Douglas, Bethwaite, Carter.