Radcliffe looked the better side for the opening 70 minutes of the match and took the lead in the 38th minute through Tunde Owolabi, but were reduced to ten men after Jordan Hulme was dismissed moments before half-time.

Despite having a player disadvantage, the Boro had chances to increase their lead but were made to pay as Joshua Miles and Joshua Amis both scored in the final 20 minutes to give the visitors all three points.

Three changes were made to the side that lost 1-0 at Marine last Saturday as Olly Thornley, Rick Smith and Matt Sargent returned to the team. The first time this campaign that the former has started a match after the defender picked up an injury in pre-season, whilst Sargent returned after serving his suspension.

Radcliffe had the first chance of the game in the sixth minute as Tunde Owolabi played a powerful pass into Brad Jackson on the edge of the six-yard area. The right-wing back’s effort at goal smashed off the underside of the bar and Dan Atherton gratefully gathered the ball on the second attempt.

Warrington threatened the Radcliffe penalty area in the 13th minute through a Connor Woods corner kick. Mateusz Hewelt’s punch was good enough to clear the immediate danger but the ball fell to Bohan Dixon at the far post, he couldn’t create a chance at goal and the Boro were able to clear their lines.

The Yellows were gifted an opportunity to open the scoring midway through the first half, as Owolabi’s misplaced pass was intercepted by Dixon. The Warrington skipper played the ball out to the right side but the attack fizzled out as the blue shirts got back in numbers quickly.

An excellent piece of play from Scott Duxbury in the 25th minute allowed Radcliffe to thread the ball in behind the visitor’s defence. The perfectly-timed run of Owolabi was found with a well-weighted ball that allowed the striker to take aim at Atherton’s near post, but the ‘keeper’s outstretched arm was enough to keep the game level at 0-0.

Radcliffe took the lead seven minutes before the half-time whistle through Owolabi, as the number 30 scored on his second home debut in a Boro shirt. The forward was able to get on the end of Anthony Dudley’s flicked ball, using his strength well whilst being hauled to the ground in the process of playing the pass, and struck his shot low past the onrushing Atherton before celebrating in front of the home faithful.

After an excellent first half from the home side, Radcliffe captain Hulme was shown a straight red card in the 44th minute for an off the ball clash with Warrington Town right back Murphy Bennett, giving Bernard and Jonno’s men a set back to overcome after the restart.

Radcliffe started the second half on top and went close to doubling their advantage just four minutes after the break. Dudley’s initial effort was well blocked by Evan Gumbs, the second ball then fell favourably for Duxbury who took two touches, one to set the ball and the second to unleash a venomous effort at goal but Atherton was able to match the strike and tip over the bar.

After he had already been caught offside on multiple occasions, Owolabi managed to time his run to get on the end of Lois Maynard’s teasing through ball. He muscled off his man before cutting the ball onto his right, opening up the far post as he did, but his curled effort went narrowly beyond the frame of the goal.

In the 65th minute, the home side had another chance to gain a two-goal cushion as Dudley’s corner kick found the head of Rick Smith. The defender had a free header but was unable to direct it on target as the ball landed just wide for a goal kick.

Twenty minutes from time, Paul Carden’s team made their extra man count as second-half substitute Miles tied the game at 1-1. After Amis went to ground inside the area, the loose ball was picked up by the substitute who found the roof of the net with a buried shot from 20-yards out.

Just three minutes after the first substitute scored, the second sub put the visitors ahead. Connor Woods beat Duxbury for pace on the outside and played a ball through the corridor of uncertainty, finding an unmarked Amis as he lurked on the edge of the six-yard area before making no mistake with a true poacher’s finish.

The introductions of new signing Mo Doro, Jamie Morgan and Josh Hancock rolled the dice for Radcliffe in order to try and claim something from the game after falling behind, but the extra energy and four minutes of additional time weren’t enough to change the outcome, as the referee’s whistle sounded at 2-1 to Warrington Town. 

The Boro will look to get back to winning ways on the road next Saturday, as we travel to Brackley Town for matchday eleven of our 2024/25 National League North campaign.