AHEAD of their massive play-off semi-final with Grantham Town tomorrow, Warrington Town boss Paul Carden discussed the game and everything around it with the Guardian's Matt Turner.

MT: Was it just a case of five mad minutes at the end of the first half that cost you the game at Stourbridge on Saturday?

PC: It didn’t even feel like five!

We had so much control and dominance in the first half, then a mistake or a lack of concentration allows them to score from a corner that we should deal with.

Pilly (Luke Pilling) apologised for his mistake. He thought it was going out, but the problem is when you think, you come unstuck. You just deal with the ball then think afterwards rather that as it’s happening.

He’s a young keeper and he’s learn from that, but he’s been outstanding for us so I’ve no problems. I just want us to concentrate right up to the death

There wasn’t one part of their play that was clean about the second goal. It was a fumble down the line, a cross that was sort of kicked into the floor and then a finish that was kicked into the floor. It was all down to our lack of concentration, though.

Up until that point, I was delighted with how we’d played. We controlled the game, we created chances, we scored a really good goal and got down the side of them numerous times.

When you go in 2-1 down, it completely changes the team talk. The last thing on your mind is what happened in the last two minutes. Not only does it undo your work, it undoes your thought process going into the dressing room.

We came out in the second half and had a go. We huffed and puffed, we worked the ball into the box but they defended strong. They dug in and saw the job out, but it was unfortunate that we couldn’t get that equaliser.

Warrington Guardian:

Carden said on-loan Tranmere stopper Luke Pilling admitted his culpability for Stourbridge's equaliser on Saturday. Picture by John Hopkins

MT: You’ve been second for so long this season, so to give it up on the last day must annoy you a little?

PC: Yes, it does. I was speaking with Toby after the game and I was picking the bones out of points and results that have cost us at times.

We shouldn’t do, because no matter what we have had a good season. If you’d have offered me third place in August, I’d have ripped your arms off! If you’d have said that we’d have the FA Trophy run we did as well, it would be the same, especially with the teams we’ve beaten along the way.

They are the things we have to use as positives to gain confidence for tomorrow night’s game. All those highlights in the season have to be brought back to the forefront of our minds.

We’re going to train tonight to work on some set-pieces. We’re going to be 100 per cent prepared for tomorrow.

Warrington Guardian:

Liam Goulding in action against Ashton United, who pipped Yellows to second place on goal difference. Picture by John Hopkins

MT: If there is to be a positive from Saturday, is it that Joe Piggott got himself on the scoresheet to end a long goal drought. That will lift his confidence, won’t it?

PC: For a young lad at 18 years of age, he came in and banged three goals in about half an hour’s worth of football. He was on fire!

He took a penalty and missed in a game, and he started to look a little off colour. Fair play to him though as a young lad, for him to keep going.

I spoke to him and said that there was no point in him stopping as he was going through a tough period. He just needed to keep marching to get through it.

He was outstanding at Grantham last Tuesday and I was delighted for him to get on the scoresheet on Saturday. His efforts have deserved a goal.

His all-round play and his work rate have been there without any let-up. For him to score going into this game tomorrow is going to do him the world of good.

Warrington Guardian:

Joe Piggott's goal on Saturday was his first since scoring twice on his league debut for Town at Matlock in February. Picture by John Hopkins

MT: How are you looking injury wise ahead of tomorrow? We obviously know there are a few out long-term and that Mekhi Leacock-McLeod and Rory McKeown are suspended, but how is everyone else looking?

PC: Adam Carden will be touch and go with his hamstring. He’s obviously desperate to play, but he is touch and go.

We’ll have a bit of a count-up tonight and get a few bumps and bangs treated.

We have what we have. With the injuries we have that are long-term, plus the suspensions, we are down on numbers but I am confident in what we have got.

There is a lot of quality in the side and if we turn up and do what we’re good at, I’ve got no worries about the game and I certainly won’t have any complaints.

If we play like I know we can, I will not have any complaints whatever the outcome. Everyone at the club has done really well.

Warrington Guardian:

Adam Carden is rated as "touch and go" for the play-off semi-final against Grantham Town. Picture by John Hopkins

MT: You were very well followed again on Saturday as you are for every game by a band of hardcore fans. To reward them must be a big motivation for the guys?

PC: 100 per cent. It will be nice to give the diehard fans something.

We’ve been talking about increasing the gates, getting other people in and things like that. Even if they don’t come, it will be good to give to ones who are there through thick and thin and any weather something to celebrate.

Warrington Guardian:

Paul Carden applauds Warrington Town's travelling fans in the FA Trophy game at Wealdstone in February. Picture by John Hopkins

MT: Grantham have scored a lot of goals this season and have a decent away record, but you only played them last week. Could that work in your favour?

PC: Well it means we know them. We know how they play, there’s no grey areas to how they play.

They look to hit their front two and gamble. They clear their lines big, make sure they are organised and they play direct to their striker, who scored a couple of goals for them on Saturday.

We know their strengths, but they will have also seen us play. We’ve played them twice in the last couple of months, we beat them at home and drew away.

We’ve just got to play our game. It’s important we recognise their strengths as they’ve been in and around the play-offs for the past couple of months and you don’t do that if you’re a poor team.

It’s important that we play to our strengths, recognise theirs and make sure our work rate is there, but I’ve never had to ask for that.

If we play to our strengths, our quality will come through.

Warrington Guardian:

Jamie McDonald is mobbed by Steve Jennings and Sean Williams after his winning goal in Yellows' 2-1 win over Grantham Town at Cantilever Park in March. Picture by John Hopkins