WARRINGTON Town boss Shaun Reid says things at Cantilever Park are looking “completely different” this Christmas than they did 12 months ago.

Heading into December last year the Yellows had one eye firmly on the FA Cup, where they were eventually beaten by National League outfit Gateshead after a record-breaking run to the second round.

That came after a shock win against Exeter City at Cantilever Park in November, but the nine games Town played in the competition were taking their toll on Reid’s side’s league form.

Beaten in the play-offs the season before, Town’s FA Cup campaign coupled with winning the Doodson Sport Cup saw a fixture backlog and injuries stacking up.

But, with only the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division North to now concentrate on, Reid is confident this can be the promotion-winning campaign he has yearned for since arriving from Prescot Cables in 2012.

“It’s completely different to last year,” explained the 50-year-old, whose side beat Mossley 5-0 on Saturday to close the gap on leaders Northwich Victoria to one point, albeit having played two games more.

“We’re out of the cups and can concentrate on our league form.”

The Yellows are yet to meet title rivals Vics in the league, but will host Jim Gannon’s side on January 16.

First they have to come through a busy festive spell which sees Town visit Cheshire neighbours Witton Albion on Boxing Day before welcoming Trafford two days later.

Then it is a tricky trip to Clitheroe to kick off the new year on January 2 – the only side to have beaten Northwich Vics so far this season.

“It’s all about recovery and players looking after themselves over the festive period,” added the former Rochdale midfielder.

“All the lads work full-time jobs as well, so for them it’s getting the balance right between enjoying themselves and staying fit.

“We’ve got a conscientious squad who care and want to do well. I know they’ll do everything right off the pitch.

“We’re well organised on the pitch and well organised off it.”

The Yellows have lost just once in 15 games in the league and Saturday’s convincing victory made it five clean sheets on the bounce.

Ben Deegan was on target twice, with strike partner Ciaran Kilheeney adding another as defenders Ali Brown and Daniel O’Donnell also chipped in with a goal apiece.

Reid calls it “championship-winning form”, but the manager is under no illusions that the job is already done.

And while last season’s unprecedented FA Cup run put Warrington Town ‘on the map’, it also heightened expectations – not to mention the club’s best ever turnover with the revenue generated from prize money and two TV appearances.

So chairman Toby Macormac has tasked the boss with taking the Yellows into the league above.

“We’ve conceded no goals in five games and as a manager my remit was to get promotion,” added Reid.

“The club is geared for that and I think we're on course, but you don’t win a championship at Christmas.

“And it doesn’t always work out that way. We love football because of its unpredictability, but look at Leicester sitting top of the league and Chelsea nearer the relegation zone.

“Anyone can win on any given day, it’s about mental attitude and if we have 11 players that really want to win, like Leicester, then you can beat the best teams in the world.”