RETURNS for influential pair Sean Williams and Tony Gray will give Warrington Town a boost against Mickleover Sports today following a shock defeat in midweek.

Williams (work commitments) and Gray (suspended) were absent on Tuesday as promotion-chasing Yellows became the first team to lose at home to struggling Stalybridge Celtic this season.

“Just to have those two back gives us a lift because they’re a big part of what we do, and play the way we want the team to play,” said Town manager Paul Carden.

“I think we really missed them on Tuesday night.

“Jay McCarten, who is also not far away from a return, Sean and Tony have been a real spine for us this season, outstanding performers in their positions.”

The performance and the failure to take the chance to climb to second in the Evo-Stik Premier Division table disappointed Carden the most.

Carden said that resorting to long-ball tactics in the first half ‘wasn’t the performance I like to associate with our team.’

He added: “In the second half we increased our levels without still playing as well as we can.

“I thought there was only one team in the game in the second half and the game should have been put to bed with the chances we had.”

Ahead of hosting mid-table Mickleover Sports, Carden said the midweek disappointment serves as a reminder to his men.

“It will be a tough game against Mickleover, just like it was at their place.

“They’ve got some good players and added further experience.

“There’s no easy games, as proven on Tuesday night.

“Stalybridge hadn’t won away all season and yet they beat us, which was obviously massively disappointing, but it shows there’s no easy games at any stage of the season in this league unless you make them easy by playing as well as you can play.

“We never did that on Tuesday but on Saturday we’ll have to.”

Town’s four-times postponed Cheshire Senior Cup first round tie against Winsford United is now pencilled in for February 26 with a switch from St Luke’s Barton Stadium to Cantilever Park, but is yet to be confirmed.