Warrington Town 1 South Shields 2

It was a deserved win for the visitors, for whom a fast start proved pivotal in front of more than 1,000 fans at Cantilever Park.

Dillon Morse and Cedric Main scored to put the Tynesiders 2-0 up inside 15 minutes, with James Baillie pulling one back before half time.

However, Yellows could not mount any meaningful attacks after the break before going down to 10 men, with Jay Harris sent off for a second yellow card.

Listen to Yellows' boss Mark Beesley's verdict on the game - including his scathing assessment of referee Martyn Mitchell's performance - below

Read sports reporter Matt Turner's full match verdict below

LIKE last week’s game at Buxton, this was a measuring stick to see how Warrington Town stacked up against a side expected to be top of their division.

On this occasion, they fell short but could be forgiven for wondering what might have been.

Had referee Martyn Mitchell spotted the seemingly clear injury-time foul on Luke Duffy inside the penalty area, they may well have dug and clawed their way to a point.

Considering how the early stages went, a draw would have been welcomed into Cantilever Park like a long-lost friend.

In the opening quarter, to say Yellows were outclassed would not be an overstatement.

Town goalkeeper Dan Atherton catches a cross. Picture by Karl Vallantine

Their full-time visitors swarmed all over them and quickly carved out a two-goal lead – an advantage they looked like they could add to at any moment.

Nathan Lowe, Robert Briggs and Will McGowan dominated midfield while Cedric Main – the scorer of the second goal – was incredibly lively on the left flank.

Under the guidance of high-profile new manager Kevin Phillips for the first time, they moved the ball around with ease and confidence, picking their way through a ragged home outfit time after time.

Mitch Duggan challenges South Shields' Connor Tee. Picture by Karl Vallantine

Even so, the goals they scored were entirely preventable from a Town point of view - Dillon Morse nodded in a corner that was needlessly conceded and poorly dealt with while the ease at which Main was allowed to breeze beyond several challenges to score was alarming.

Town saw precious little of the ball but having been presented with a route back into the game – Shields keeper Scott Moloney’s suspect handling led to James Baillie pulling a goal back – they had at least something to build on.

Particularly once Josh Amis was introduced, they started to cause problems for the visitors with a more direct approach and they sensed the door was ajar.

Jay Harris’ sending-off for two bookings seemed to slam it shut until Duffy was hacked down by Mitchell Rose right under the official’s nose – two huge decisions that went against Town and left manager Mark Beesley incensed.

Jay Harris flicks on a header before being sent off. Picture by Karl Vallantine

Dan Atherton in the Yellows goal was not forced into serious action after the break, but it always felt as though the Mariners were in control of proceedings.

On the whole, their win was deserved but there will remain a bitter taste in the mouth for the hosts.

Having now dropped out of the play-off spots, they cannot afford for this to derail them as a sustained drop-off could prove fatal to their chances.