PAUL Carden says Warrington Town simply did not perform in tonight’s FA Cup replay defeat at FC Halifax Town.

The National League side scored in either half at The Shay to book a first-round tie with League Two outfit Morecambe at Yellows’ expense.

Report: FC Halifax 2 Yellows 0

Town dominated Saturday’s original tie at Cantilever Park, but the Shaymen escaped with a 2-2 draw and put in a ruthless display on home soil to end Warrington’s cup journey.

Carden insisted they had prepared for a Halifax backlash, but acknowledged his side were second-best.

“The biggest disappointment for me is that we haven’t performed tonight,” he told the Guardian.

“Halifax really upped their levels from the weekend. We expected them to make the changes they did and they were at us from the start.

“They didn’t allow us to do what we did to them on Saturday, but there was an element of us being too jittery and nervy.

“We were lucky to only be one down at half time.

“There wasn’t a lot in the second half but they scored from us being on the attack and that killed the game.

“We huffed and puffed, but I don’t remember us working their keeper.”

The hosts opened the scoring in bizarre circumstances early on when Jordan Preston’s corner went straight in at the near post.

Goalkeeper Tony McMillan was injured trying to prevent the goal as he caught his knee on a piece of metal forming part of the goal frame, which caused a large gash.

He had extensive treatment on the pitch and was able to play on, but Carden confirmed the stopper is likely to be absent for a number of weeks.

“It’s a poor goal. I try and keep things as basic as I can for players and there’s no risk in our defensive third,” he said.

“We’ve conceded four goals over the two games by taking chances.

“Jake (Kirby) has let the ball go thinking it’s going out, but it’s gone in.

“We gave ourselves problems by taking chances and we were fighting an uphill battle thanks to a calamitous goal.

“It’s given Tony Mac a gash on his knee that’s probably going to keep him out for a few weeks.”

Dayle Southwell scored Halifax’s second goal just after the hour mark as they cruised to an ultimately comfortable victory.

Carden opened up as to where he felt the Shaymen hurt his side in a way they did not at Cantilever Park on Saturday.

“Their full backs were good with the ball. The right back pushed up high and took Dylan Vassallo all the way back with him,” he said.

“The left back has good quality and without passing it too much, he left it in good areas behind us.

“That left us detached so the forwards were isolated, the midfield dropped deep and we couldn’t get out.

“The more we gave the ball away and couldn’t get out of our half, we invited trouble and pressure in the first half.

“We were a bit better in the second half but in truth, we didn’t deserve anything today.

“They didn’t deserve anything on Saturday but they got it, and that’s the story of the tie.”