SHAUN Reid said Warrington Town let down their supporters during Saturday’s thrashing at home to title rivals Curzon Ashton.

And the Yellows’ boss challenged his side to prove themselves in the weeks ahead after their opponents closed to within a point of top spot in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s Division One North.

They have three games in hand too.

“The supporters have been different class – we have a growing fanbase and I felt for them on Saturday,” said Reid.

“No one takes it to heart more than me, but it’s about players and they have to play as if it’s their last game. I felt only two or three showed that.

“They now have to go out and prove to me that it was the right decision to bring them into this club.”

Curzon established a two-goal lead by the break en route to inflicting upon Town their heaviest defeat of the season, Niall Cummins slotting in after 27 minutes before Ryan Brooke headed in from a corner.

Ben Wharton pulled one back for the hosts at the start of the second half, heading home ex-Curzon player Scott Metcalfe’s delivery.

But Brooke went on to complete his hat-trick, bundling over the line for his second before nodding in Cummins’ free kick.

Matthew Warburton despatched a direct free kick to make it 5-1.

“The lads were devastated because they let themselves, me and the club down,” added Reid.

“They’ve been told it won’t be allowed to happen again.

“It’s disappointing because they‘ve worked hard to get this far, but it goes to show what happens if you don’t turn up. We didn’t and got punished.”

The result blows the title race wide open with Yellows still to face Curzon again as well as third-placed Farsley. Both of those teams have to travel Darlington.