Warrington Town programme editor Paul Roach reviews the Yellows’ journey through 2012

 

AT times some great football was played and from new year it looked like Town had got into the groove.

However, form faltered and come March things started to go wrong.

Key players in defence and midfield were lost to injury and suspension, and then players started to jump ship mainly for the apparent ‘greener pastures’ of Skelmersdale United.

When things did finally go wrong the form imploded in a big way.

The most frustrating aspect was having worked so hard to get in a position to be challenging for the play offs (two points shy), Town disintegrated – such as the collapse against nine-man Wakefield and the performances that followed.

It brought about the unfortunate dismissal of Joey Dunn and Stuart Humphreys.

In came Shaun Reid, who was something of an unknown quantity to most.

The board were clearly impressed and believed in Shaun being the right man to move forward.

With numerous changes and disruption, the running-in period was difficult and concluded with six defeats in eight games as Town slipped to a disappointing 11th place. That was lower than the two previous seasons and seven points fewer than the 2011/12 campaign.

Very few of the squad stayed on in pre-season and a host of home friendlies were played with ever changing sides, never really picking up any rhythm.

However, things did not start too badly with a run of five unbeaten games.

Then a slump started.

When struggling Goole came to visit it was something of a relief to put seven goals past them, and two wins and two draws looked to be setting Town on their way again.

Then Town plummeted to the lowest point of the season so far, hammerings by Runcorn Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup and then again by basement side Garforth Town.

It brought about an awakening in the team.

New signings and renewed desire changed the way Town played and things improved with some significance.

Town drew with table-topping Mossley before stuffing them 7-1 three days’ later in the Doodson Sports Cup.

A climb up the table started, enough to lift Town into a play-offs place, albeit having played more games than other teams.

A 2-0 lead was relinquished as all cup football for another season ended in a 3-2 defeat at foggy Trafford on December 18.

* Edited version. Paul Roach’s full review will be in Town’s match programme when Cammell Laird are the visitors on New Year’s Day, kick off 3pm.