Warrington Town held off a late fightback from Sutton Coldfield to win 2-1 at a frozen Cantilever Park.
Lewis Codling scored two well-taken goals, one in either half, which proved just about enough despite Dan O’Callaghan’s lifeline for the visitors 10 minutes from time.
As has been the case in recent weeks, there was another new face in the Yellows line-up, in the shape of left-back Rory McKeown.
The first goal came after 10 minutes, ‘keeper James Wren only half clearing the ball and Codling immediately returned it with air above him and defenders in to the goal.
It was a much needed early goal following last weekend’s disappointment, and it was nearly two minutes later when Samuel Ilesamni got in behind.
The visitors, under new management, provided sterner opposition than their lowly league position suggests, and they started to build momentum before the break.
As it was, the best chance at the end of the first half fell to the Yellows, when Craig Robinson’s volley was blocked by two defenders.
O’Callaghan almost levelled things up early in the second half, his curling shot landing on the roof of the net with Tony McMillan scrambling.
The number nine then had a shout for a penalty waved away, after he went down under a challenge from Mitch Duggan.
Warrington settled their nerves on the hour mark, Danny Hattersley chasing down a neat ball in to the box and forcing Wren to punch away, with Codling poised to smartly volley home past the two covering defenders.
Codling then looked a cert to get a hat-trick, as he came close on no fewer than three occasions.
First, Ilesamni’s work down the right and pull-back was just beyond Codling, with Scott Harries’ follow-up shot blocked.
And from the resulting corner, Codling diverted Eddie Toner’s driven ball in to the danger zone just over the bar.
Ilesamni could have made sure of the points on 68 minutes when he held off a defender, and his deflected shot went agonisingly wide of the far post.
Not for the first time this season, it proved to be a shaky final quarter for the Yellows as Sutton Coldfield just wouldn’t go away.
O’Callaghan got the goal his endeavours deserved, a fizzing right foot shot that curled away from McMillan and in to his bottom left hand corner.
That gave the visitors 10 minutes to lay siege on the Yellows, but it didn’t quite happen.
Paul Carden’s introduction of John Shaw in front of the back four, in place of Codling, neutralised the threat that Francino Francie was having and in the end, the Yellows closed out to win with the minimum of fuss.
Tuesday’s scheduled game against Blyth Spartans has been postponed due to their commitments in the FA Trophy.
Warrington Town are next in action when they visit Frickley next Saturday.
Codling lobs the keeper for th eopenning goal PICTURE BARRY SCHOLES
Fans celebrates PICTURE BARRY SCHOLES
Colding is congratulated by his team mates PICTURE BARRY SCHOLES
Codlings bags his second goal PICTURE BARRY SCHOLES
Colding celebrates PICTURE BARRY SCHOLES
Lewis Codling receives his MoM award from Match Day Sponsors Poco Coffee
PREMIER DIVISION TABLE
# Team Pl HW HD HL AW AD AL W D L F A Diff Pts Adj
1. Whitby Town 21 7 2 1 5 3 3 12 5 4 28 19 9 41 0
2. Buxton 21 8 2 0 4 2 5 12 4 5 39 20 19 40 0
3. Rushall Olympic 21 7 1 3 5 2 3 12 3 6 34 25 9 39 0
4. Blyth Spartans 19 6 3 1 5 1 3 11 4 4 38 19 19 37 0
5. Hednesford Town 21 6 3 3 4 1 4 10 4 7 38 24 14 34 0
6. Matlock Town 19 6 3 1 4 1 4 10 4 5 28 20 8 34 0
7. Warrington Town 22 7 0 5 3 3 4 10 3 9 35 32 3 33 0
8. Workington 21 6 0 4 4 3 4 10 3 8 29 28 1 33 0
9. Spennymoor Town 19 6 1 2 3 4 3 9 5 5 39 23 16 32 0
10. Stourbridge 19 6 1 2 3 4 3 9 5 5 31 24 7 32 0
11. Ashton United 22 4 3 4 4 5 2 8 8 6 41 37 4 32 0
12. Nantwich Town 17 3 1 3 6 3 1 9 4 4 34 22 12 31 0
