TEN man Warrington Town held on to earn a point at home to Boston United and make it five games unbeaten in National League North.
In a game of few chances which ended goalless, the Yellows played most of the last half hour with a man less after Matt Grivosti was sent off for a last man foul on Sam Smart that halted a Boston counterattack.
Keziah Martin’s shot straight at Dan Atherton was about all the Pilgrims managed, while Isaac Buckley-Ricketts headed just wide from Connor Woods’ deep cross.
There was very little to write home about from a first half that ended with four minutes of added on time.
Fortunately, it did liven up after the break, Grivosti particularly looking lively and he had a low shot comfortably saved by Aaron Chapman.
Tom Leak was perhaps pleased to see an offside flag shoot up when he somehow diverted Martin Woods’ free-kick over the bar from a position where it looked easier to score, before the red card tipped the momentum in Boston’s favour.
The Yellows had been putting the visitors under some pressure but a sharp counter attack saw Deji Sotona play it inside for Smart who had his heels clipped by Grivosti a good 30 yards out from goal, but with very little covering defence, the referee sent the midfielder off.
Six minutes later came Boston’s best chance, Kelsey Mooney cushioning a sharp pass from Woods in to the path of Martin who drilled a shot straight at Atherton.
Jay Harris, in the starting team to replace Bohan Dixon following his departure to Macclesfield, did find the back of the net in the 73rd minute, winning the ball back off Woods and curling it in to the back of the net from the edge of the box, only to be denied by the referee’s whistle for a foul.
The best chance fell to Buckley-Ricketts 13 minutes from time, Woods stood up his man and dug up a cross for the Yellows’ top scorer who had peeled off his man at the back post, but could only head wide.
In the end it was a point well earned for the Yellows ahead of back-to-back away games at Curzon Ashton (Saturday) and Spennymoor (Tuesday week).
Warrington Town: Atherton; Wisdom, Clarke, Hannigan, White; Williams, Harris; Woods (Gumbs 90), McDonald (Walker 85), Grivosti; Buckley Ricketts. Unused subs: Goudie, Pasiek, Brooks.
Boston United: Chapman; Rowe (Gyasi 78), Leak, Bostwick, Nicholson; Smart (Ward 62), Martin, Woods, Richards, Sotona (Knowles 62); Mooney. Unused subs: Sephton, Mills.
