PAUL Carden believes Warrington Town’s dramatic Boxing Day win over Witton Albion was a deserved one.

Tony Gray came off the bench to score twice, including an injury-time winner, as Yellows recovered from a goal down to win 2-1 at Wincham Park.

Report: Witton 1 Yellows 2

The visitors were much more threatening after Gray replaced Scott Bakkor at half-time and changed to a 4-4-2 system and Carden says he was pleased his gamble paid off.

“If there was a team that deserved to win, I thought it was us,” he said.

“It was always my intention to make those changes, but obviously not in those circumstances.

“Things don't always go to plan and you have to think on your feet. That's what I'm paid to do and thankfully, the substitutions paid off.

“I thought Tony gave us more presence up there alongside Jamie (McDonald). Jamie was well-marshalled, he looked up and there was always three guys around him.

“They've obviously targeted him as the main threat, which probably freed Tony up for his goals.

“It was a great win. These are a good side who are well-drilled but I think we've deserved it.”

Yellows were lacklustre in the first half as Will Jones gave Witton a half-time lead, capitalising on a mistake from returning centre-half Jack Higgins.

Carden did, however, praise Higgins’ all-round performance but reserved special praise for Liam Goulding, who shone in an unfamiliar holding midfield role.

The Yellows boss also explained why he started with a 4-5-1 system at Wincham Park.

“In the first half, I didn't think we had any spark in us. We were flat and we isolated Jamie,” he said.

“We'd changed the system as I knew they were a threat with the two big lads up front, so we put Liam in front of the back four and I thought he was immense.

“We didn't have that threat going forward, so we made a couple of changes to get Tony on.

“That's what Tony will do as his finishing is quality.

“Even in the first half, I don't remember Tony McMillan making a save.

“There was the goal and a free kick from distance in the second half. Other than that, there was nothing.

“We asked a lot of questions of them in the second half. Will Hayhurst put some quality set-pieces in.

“Their left winger has been talked about a lot, but I thought Adam (Carden) did a good job on him. He had a few little runs early on but Adam took it the other way and started winning fouls off him.

“Kinny (Gerard Kinsella) gave us some legs when he came on and I thought Jack (Higgins) did really well today. The pitch has killed him for the goal a little bit.”