PAUL Carden says his Warrington Town side have made a statement by toppling Evo-Stik Premier Division table-toppers South Shields this afternoon.

Yellows are now the division’s new leaders after goals from Bohan Dixon, debutant Jake Kirby and Josh Amis earned them a convincing win at Cantilever Park.

Report: Yellows 3 South Shields 0

They lead the table by two points having played fewer games than second-placed Basford United and third-placed Scarborough Athletic, but Carden was keen not to get too carried away with their league position.

However, he hailed the result as “a full club performance,” commended the part Yellows fans had to play despite being outnumbered by travelling fans.

“It is a statement early doors. They have been flying high and came with a strong reputation as being the team to beat,” he said.

“We played really well, but we are in September. We have to keep grounded.

“It’s another game and another three points, but now we have to draw a line through it and concentrate on Tuesday.

“We’ll stay focused, but I am pleased with a very good performance.

“The fans were brilliant. I don’t know what people in Warrington do, but I don’t know why more people aren’t coming down.

“The lads and girls behind the goal, and all around the place, made themselves noisy, and that’s a credit to them because they probably were outnumbered.

“It was a full club performance today and I’m glad everyone is going home happy.

“We’ll enjoy the result, but we now need to focus on our recovery.

“We’ll get bumps and bruises seen to and make sure we’re ready to go again on Tuesday against Mickleover.”

South Shields are the favourites to win the Evo-Stik Premier Division this season, but failed to impress at Cantilever Park.

They failed to test Warrington keeper Tony McMillan significantly as the Town stopper’s run without conceding a goal passed the 11-hour mark.

The Mariners had the majority of possession, but Carden says that was all part of the plan.

“They changed formation today and went to 3-5-2,” he said.

“If their three centre-halves have the ball, it means their dangerous players further up the field don’t.

“The shape we set up with will allow the opposition the ball, but we set traps and caused them problems by denying them time and space.

“We made them play the ball into areas where our strengths are and we countered.

“With the pace we have in the side and the quality we have further up the pitch, it works. We scored three really good goals today.

“We’ve smelt blood and capitalised on it.

“I knew we were coming in strong with what we had coming back this week.

“The squad is coming together now and it’s looking really strong.”