THIS was the kind of performance that will reassure Warrington Town supporters their side should be scared by no rival.

They found the net four times against a defence the rest of Division One North has breached only on 10 occasions between them since August.

The reward is a six-point lead at the top of the table.

That is in no way a disaster for Northwich Victoria, who have four games in hand.

Jim Gannon’s side also played with 10 men for most of the contest following Mo Ali’s dismissal after quarter of an hour.

They were strangely shabby at the back – three of Yellows’ goals were the direct result of carelessness – but were resilient enough to rally late on.

Replies from Iain Howard and Richie Bennett – the latter’s a strike of real beauty with his left boot into the top corner from 25 yards – caused their hosts to quiver.

However, in keeping with their display for the previous 90 minutes, an error gifted to Ben Deegan a chance to soothe Warrington fears in stoppage time.

He duly claimed the goal his individual display deserved.

Shorn of Brian Summerskill, who was feeling unwell, Vics had included Ali as a midfielder.

Stuart Cook was also rewarded for his double as a substitute at Scarborough, earning a start in place of Gary Burnett.

And the visitors caused Town goalkeeper Karl Wills to dirty his gloves in the first 60 seconds, reaching to his left to divert Bennett’s low attempt.

But the contest did not ignite until Ali was sent off.

He could not keep up with Chris Gahgan when the winger scampered onto Ciaran Kilheeney’s flick, and was shown a red card by referee Kevin Sarsfield after clawing him back.

Warrington toiled initially afterwards to find a route to the visitors’ goal, and instead were grateful to Wills for reacting smartly to parry Iain Howard’s snapshot on 29 minutes.

When they did break through, it was due to Deegan’s ingenuity.

Back to goal, he waited for the right moment to nudge the ball into Nathan Burke’s path with his heel.

The marauder in yellow did not have to break stride, flashing his shot beyond Vics custodian Mason Springthorpe’s reach.

And the hosts doubled their lead in the seconds before half-time, aided by Scott Duxbury’s slip-up.

He could not intercept Deegan’s pass, and Kilheeney finished stylishly after running clear.

Springthorpe stretched fully to tip Deegan’s drive to safety in the second period, though he was helpless to prevent Kilheeney – on target now in six successive matches – from making it 3-0 when Warrington’s captain pounced Mike Clarke's failure to make his a flick-on.

But Vics, beaten only once previously in a league match this season, were defiant when many in the crowd could be forgiven for thinking the game was up.

Howard’s shot arrowed in at the near post, after Liam Turner failed to cut out Bennett’s header, on 76 minutes.

Bennett then served up a cracker – scorching a rising effort past Wills after spinning on the edge of the box – to close the gap further.

Deegan dashed their hopes though after Springthorpe’s clumsy kick landed at his feet, holding off a defender’s challenge before sweeping in.

Substitute Scott Metcalfe was among the first to congratulate him, relieved perhaps that his miss moments earlier – with the goal at his mercy from Gahgan’s cross – had done only superficial damage.

Before kick-off, Warrington had not started a league fixture as leaders since early in November.

Vics quickly knocked them from that perch back then, though Shaun Reid’s side will hope to stay there a little longer this time around.

Town | 4-4-2 | Wills (GK), Turner, McCarten, O’Donnell, McQuade, Gahgan (Holt 90), Ventre, Burke, Dean (Metcalfe 77), Kilheeney (Beattie 85), Deegan Subs not used Robinson, Rudge Goals Burke 33, Kilheeney 45, 69 Deegan 90 Booked Deegan (ungentlemanly conduct), McQuade (foul)

Vics | 4-3-3 | Springthorpe (GK), Byrne, Michael Clarke, Krou (Sanogo 89), Duxbury, Ali, Ball, Roddy (Summerskill 68), Cook, Bennett, Howard Subs not used Smith (GK), Amis, Burnett Goals Howard 75 Bennett 82 Booked Byrne (ungentlemanly conduct) Sent off Ali (foul)

Referee Kevin Sarsfield

Attendance 1,095