WARRINGTON Town manager Paul Carden has challenged his side to take their Evo-Stik Premier Division form “up a level.”

After Tuesday’s 3-1 win at Matlock Town, Yellows travel to Sutton Coldfield Town on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

With fixtures piling up, Town have one less competition to worry about after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Wealdstone saw their impressive FA Trophy run end.

However, Carden says their run in that competition, in which they knocked out two sides from higher divisions in Tamworth and Ebbsfleet United, should give them belief for the remainder of their league campaign.

“We’ve got 21 league games left now and we have to take our form up a level now. We have to put a real run together,” he said.

“We’ve proved in the Trophy that we’ve been the better team in every game we’ve played, especially against teams in the league above. That shows what we’re capable of.

“It’s not like they were one-offs, Saturday was our tenth game in the FA Trophy and we only played two teams from our level.

“We’ve played three teams from levels above and we’ve been better than them every time.

“It’s not a fluke, we’re a good team and we need to make sure we show that over the next 21 league games.

During Saturday’s trip to Grosvenor Vale, Yellows could perhaps feel hard done by as two big decisions made by referee Sam Purkiss and his assistants went the way of the National League South side.

Jamie McDonald had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half after converting the rebound from a Tony Gray shot, while Purkiss awarded Wealdstone a penalty after the break after an alledged trip on Edward Oshodi.

However, video footage has shown McDonald to be onside when Gray shot for goal and that there was no contact on Oshodi when he went down for the spot kick.

Carden admitted his side had been given “a slap in the face” but urged them not to dwell on the disappointment.

“The lads have got to feel disappointed but they have to be proud,” he said.

“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. Sometimes you get what you deserve in football, sometimes you don’t.

“That’s the way it is. It’s a slap in the face, but we’ve got to get on with it.”

Yellows are also in action on Tuesday night as they welcome Stalybridge Celtic to Cantilever Park, kick off 7.45pm.