Warrington Town manager's top five wins in charge

His time at the club has rarely been dull, whether it be cup runs, play-off near misses or global pandemics stopping the game completely.

On the whole – including the officially expunged 2019-20 season – he has picked a Yellows team 217 times, leading to some memorable results and performances.

Here, the man himself picks his top five victories from his time at Cantilever Park so far...

5. YELLOWS 3 SOUTH SHIELDS 0

Northern Premier League, September 29, 2018

Town goalscorers: Bohan Dixon (37), Jake Kirby (80), Josh Amis (90)

NEWLY promoted to the Premier Division off the back of a dominant First Division North title procession, South Shields arrived at Cantilever Park top of the tree again.

However, they left with tails between legs thanks to a red-hot Yellows display.

A superb individual goal from Bohan Dixon put them ahead at the break and it was an advantage Town would extend after the interval.

On-loan Stockport County frontman Jake Kirby marked his debut with an emphatic finish before Josh Amis added a late coup de grâce.

Yellows team: Tony McMillan, Mitch Duggan, Alex Whittle, Ben Garrity, Mark Roberts, Dave Raven, Jack Mackreth, Robbie Evans, Tony Gray (Jake Kirby), Bohan Dixon (Josh Amis), Dylan Vassallo (Luke George). Subs not used: Adam Carden, Jack Dunn

> Look back at how we reported on the game here

Bohan Dixon scores Town's opener in their 3-0 win over South Shields in September 2018. Picture by John Hopkins

4. YELLOWS 2 EBBSFLEET UNITED 0

FA Trophy second round replay, January 16, 2018

Town goalscorers: Tony Gray (50), Jamie McDonald (67)

IN truth, this game should not have been needed.

Three days earlier, Yellows had dominated Conference side Ebbsfleet on their own turf only to concede a last-gasp equaliser to draw 1-1, meaning a replay was needed.

On a wet and wild Tuesday night at Cantilever Park, they finished the job.

"That was such a good win after conceding so late at their place – which was an unbelievable performance as well, they didn’t deserve a draw." Carden said.

"They actually finished in the play-offs that year and lost to Tranmere.

"It wasn’t just a one-off big game – we were the better side on their patch then got them up here on the Tuesday and won.

"It was a tough game as conditions weren’t great. Tony (Gray) scored a great goal at the near end.

"It was a top, top performance when nothing was expected of us."

Yellows team: Ben Ascroft, Adam Carden, Rory McKeown, Sean Williams, Jay McCarten, Liam Goulding, Devarn Green (Gerard Kinsella), Dylan Vassallo, Jamie McDonald, Tony Gray (Scott Bakkor), Will Hayhurst (Shaun Beeley). Subs not used. Brad Barnes, Stephen Milne

> Here's how we reported on the game

Tony Gray opens the scoring against Ebbsfleet. Picture by John Hopkins

3. SOUTH SHIELDS 1 YELLOWS 2

Northern Premier League, February 16, 2019

Town goalscorers: Josh Amis (27), Jack Dunn (32)

HAVING dismissed South Shields at home earlier in the season, this win was arguably more impressive.

Before Yellows rocked up at Mariners Park, nobody had beaten the Tynesiders on their own patch but two first-half goals saw to that.

There had to be some defending akin to the Alamo after the break, but they got the job done.

"They’re such a good side and when they came into the division, everyone was saying how good they were and rightly so," Carden said.

"We did the double over them that season – we beat them convincingly at home which was another top performance, but to go away and beat them as we did was equally impressive.

"I can’t imagine too many people had beaten them home and away. They were flying as well at the time."

Yellows team: Tony McMillan, Mitch Duggan, Alex Whittle, Shaun Beeley, Mark Roberts, Dave Raven, Bohan Dixon (Robbie Evans), Ben Garrity, Tony Gray (Russell Benjamin), Josh Amis, Jack Dunn (Adam Hughes). Subs not used: Connor McCarthy, Dylan Vassallo

> Here's how we reported on the game

Jack Dunn scores against South Shields. Picture by John Hopkins

2. YELLOWS 4 NANTWICH 1

Northern Premier League play-off semi-final, April 30, 2019

Town goalscorers: Ben Garrity (57, 80), Lloyd Allinson OG (89), Tony Gray (90)

A SPECIAL atmosphere and an equally special Yellows performance.

Almost 1,500 fans packed into Cantilever Park and the place was bouncing to see Town recover from a half-time deficit to thrash their Cheshire rivals.

"A night game always brings that atmosphere – the lights, the pace of the pitch as there’s a bit of zip on it and the stakes of the game," Carden recalls.

"We’ve always had good games against Nantwich but I was confident of beating them. I was confident we had more than them.

"They scored a good goal a little bit against the run of play, but from then on in we were on top.

"We changed it a bit at half time. We had Shaun Beeley playing in midfield and he tied up Sean Cooke.

"Mitch (Duggan) won’t thank me as we took him off after half time as we went for the game, and we ran all over them in the second half.

"We were too strong, too quick and had far too much for them on the night."

Yellows team: Tony McMillan, Mitch Duggan (Bohan Dixon), Alex Whittle, Ben Garrity (Dylan Vassallo), Mark Roberts, Dave Raven, Shaun Beeley, Robbie Evans, Tony Gray, Jack Dunn, Jack Mackreth (Russell Benjamin). Subs not used: Josh Amis, Marcus Cusani

> Here's how we reported on the game

Yellows celebrations from the play-off win over Nantwich Town. Picture by John Hopkins

1. SOUTH SHIELDS 1 YELLOWS 2

Northern Premier League play-off final, May 4, 2019

Town goalscorers: Dylan Vassallo (67), Josh Amis (87)

THERE could only be one winner...

A victory that would have meant promotion in any other year and although Yellows would go on to suffer "super play-off" heartbreak, this second win of the season inside the South Shields bearpit will never be forgotten.

"That was as strong a performance as we’ve had," Carden said.

"To beat them in such a big game with such a big crowd – when their crowd and staff are clapping you off, you know you’ve done something right.

"On the day, we were so strong. The subs played their part massively – Dylan and Josh both came on to score. You couldn’t script it better really.

"They had spells of possession but its what you do. We looked at it and knew how they wanted to play, but if we did things right we could let them have the ball where we wanted them to.

"It worked a treat for us – the lads took the instructions on and combined it with their own ability and confidence."

Yellows team: Tony McMillan, Shaun Beeley, Alex Whittle, Ben Garrity, Mark Roberts, Dave Raven, Bohan Dixon (Josh Amis), Robbie Evans, Tony Gray, Jack Dunn (Dylan Vassallo), Jack Mackreth (Russell Benjamin). Subs not used: Marcus Cusani, Mitch Duggan

> Here's how we reported on the game

Paul Carden celebrates the play-off win at South Shields. Picture by John Hopkins