WHAT preceded the interval in this contest bore next to no resemblance to what followed.

Put simply, somebody changed channel.

That, plus Witton Albion’s defence switched off and were punished.

Warrington scored three goals inside quarter of an hour after the break, establishing a lead they rarely looked likely to relinquish.

Nor did they, taking another step towards the First Division North title.

Strange then to say they were lucky to be level at the end of the opening period.

The visitors, who included teenager Theo Chrisokhou for the first time from the start, carried more of a threat after surviving an early scare when Ged Kinsella fired into the side-netting from an acute angle.

They took the lead on 17 minutes, when Alex Titchiner drilled low past Karl Wills after strike-partner Rob Hopley cushioned the ball – missed initially by Phil Dean – into his path.

His most recent goal, before an enforced spell out with an injury, was before Christmas.

Warrington drew level on 25 minutes, when captain Ciaran Kilheeney converted a penalty after Chris Noone needlessly tripped Kinsella.

Witton continued to create opportunities.

Carl Peers sliced wide after Wills, under pressure from Hopley, failed to clear Danny Andrews’ free kick.

And Peers missed a simpler chance when Michael Wilson sent another set piece back across goal, heading high with the goal at his mercy.

When Titchiner jabbed his next attempt against an upright, after Andrews slipped a perfectly-weighted pass behind Yellows’ defence, Albion fans’ optimism may have ebbed slightly.

Those fears were realised when Kilheeney finished emphatically after striker-partner Ben Deegan headed Joe Holt’s cross into his path two minutes after half-time.

Witton rallied, equalising almost immediately when Wilson fired in from a corner.

It was 3-2 when Daniel O’Donnell nodded in a set piece at the other end, a third goal in a five-minute spell.

And Albion’s hopes of a recovery were hit further when Jay McCarten’s daisy-cutter of a free kick – awarded harshly by referee Matthew Corlett when he judged Scott Metcalfe’s drive to have hit Witton captain Anthony Gardner’s arm – crept under goalkeeper Danny Roberts.

Jeff King flashed wide a free kick at the other end, and manager Carl Macauley gambled by sending on attacking midfielders Tom Owens and Joe Newton – switching to a three-man defence.

It did not bring the dividend of a goal, or a fourth successive win.

Instead Kinsella was denied by a fine smothering save by Roberts from Kilheeney’s cute pass, then the midfielder headed over Metcalfe’s cross from the resulting corner.

Town | 4-4-2 | Wills (GK), Brown, O’Donnell, McCarten, Dean, Holt (Gillespie 85), Ventre, Kinsella, Metcalfe, Deegan, Kilheeney Subs not used Robinson, Turner, Beattie, Gaghan Goals Kilheeney 25, 47 O’Donnell 52, McCarten 59 Booked Ventre

Witton | 4-4-2 | Roberts (GK), Gardner, Chrisokhou, Wilson, Dawson (Owens 74), Andrews, Noone (Newton 74), Peers (Schofield 67), King, Titchiner, Hopley Subs not used Garner (GK), Mullarkey Goals Titchiner 17, Wilson 49

Referee Matthew Corlett

Attendance 452