Pictures John Hopkins
WARRINGTON Town’s nine match unbeaten run came to an end as they lost 1-0 at Scarborough Athletic.
In the proverbial game of two halves, the Yellows failed to make the most of a host of chances in the second half and they were punished by the hosts, who scored with their very first shot of the game six minutes in to the second half.
League top scorer James Walshaw was the scorer, lofting the ball over Tony McMillan after latching on to a ball over the top, and the Seadogs were able to see out the match as the Yellows slip to fourth in the league table.
After his two-goal showing off the bench in the 3-3 draw at Farsley Celtic last week, Josh Amis made a rare start with Dylan Vassallo just behind him, meaning Tony Gray, Bohan Dixon and Connor McCarthy all had to settle for a place on the bench.
It was Warrington’s first ever visit to the Flamingo Land Stadium against a Scarborough side who had topped the league before Christmas, but had been on an indifferent run of late that had seen them lose five out of six around the festive period.
They created their first opening on the artificial pitch after nine minutes, a second ball bouncing in their favour off a throw and Vassallo fed Jack Mackreth, who’s low drive took a nick on the way through and whistled past the ‘keeper’s right hand post.
That won the first of several corners Warrington would have in the first half, though they were unable to make any of them pay.
The first time either ‘keeper was tested came on 26 minutes when Tommy Taylor pushed out Jack Dunn’s well-hit free-kick from 30 yards out, and Taylor would also be called upon to claim Ben Garrity’s header from the subsequent corner.
A spell of pressure followed from the Yellows, with Vassallo causing havoc in the box and then turning past the last man to stretch for the ball and shoot, denied by Taylor on the line.
From that corner, Dunn cut in from the left and his low right-footed shot was creeping in at the near post before Taylor pushed behind.
Scarborough were restricted to scraps and counter attacks and it was from one of those that Michael Coulson took the ball the full length of the field to force their first corner, with Robbie Evans picking up a yellow card for an attempted pull back on the break.
Dunn was increasingly looking like the man that could make things happen, a weak right foot shot was saved by Taylor before a dangerous cross was turned away by the excellent Ross Killock.
There were plenty of niggles in the match, a clash between Alex Whittle and Nathan Valentine saw a lengthy stoppage and a yellow card for the latter, while Amis would turn in to the pantomime villain and Luke Lofts was booked for diving for the home side.
Half time cut the tension and Scarborough came out strongly and never looked back.
Having not had a shot in the first half, they would score with their first of the second half, a hopeful ball over the top was too far for Dave Raven and Walshaw was able to nip in and he kept his composure to loft the ball over the oncoming McMillan.
That gave the hosts something to protect, though they would enjoy similar pressure to what Warrington had in the first half, without adding a second goal.
McMillan saved well from Coulson shortly before the hour, before Raven got back on the line to deny Coulson from the rebound.
Scarborough were in control and though the introduction of Tony Gray in particular sparked some creativity in to the Yellows attack, they were unable to test Taylor until the 88th minute, when he just kept the ball away from Amis after Dunn’s low drive in to the danger area.
Warrington’s fifth league defeat of the season sees them fourth in the table, just a point behind all three teams above them, who all sit on 53 points.
Scarborough Athletic: Taylor, Johnson, Lacey, Dixon, Burgess (Merris), Killock, Valentine, Watson, Walshaw, Coulson, Lofts (Cadman). Unused subs: Morgan, McGuire, McNaughton.
Warrington Town: McMillan, Gumbs, Whittle, Garrity, Roberts, Raven, Mackreth (Gray), Evans (Beeley), Amis, Vassallo (McCarthy), Dunn. Unused subs: Dixon, Reid.
