WITH the season just past the halfway mark, it is easy to see why Warrington Town fans might be getting a little bit excited.

As the team sit comfortably inside the Evo-Stik Premier Division play-off places and within touching distance of top spot, Yellows are impeccably placed to launch a serious promotion bid.

Despite many of last season's squad that reached the play-offs and the latter stages of the FA Trophy moving on to pastures new, manager Paul Carden has somehow managed to pull together a better side.

Amid the current trend of teams buying their way through non-league, it is refreshing to see that having good contacts can still get you as far as a big bank balance.

Yellows have been a pleasure to watch this season, and the way they go about their business is ruthless and calculated.

They have taken the lead in 14 games this season. Of those games, they have won 13 and drawn the other.

It is like watching a boxer sitting casually behind their jab after scoring a couple of knockdowns and coasting to victory.

Yellows are unbeaten in games in which they have scored first this season. Picture by John Hopkins

Confidence could not be higher at the moment as Town are in the midst of a seven-game winning run, but how serious is their promotion bid?

In the next two weeks or so, we will go a long way towards finding out.

The next two Saturdays see them travel to promotion rivals – with second-place Farsley lying in wait first.

Having won nine games in a row, they are the only team in better form than Yellows in the division and they have not lost at their Throstle Nest home since August.

Scarborough Athletic are their hosts after that and despite their wretched form of late, their immense firepower and large home support make it a tough proposition.

Should they emerge from both of those games unbeaten, it will send out a huge message that Yellows are in it to win it.

They have no reason to fear either trip. After all, they do boast the league’s joint-best away record with eight wins from 11 games on the road.

Such is the position they have worked themselves into, however, they could lose both games and they will remain in third place. Defeat should not bring panic.

Looking slightly further ahead, if the next two games will give a good indicator of Yellows’ title chances, we will know so much more by the end of February.

Next month sees them travel to Gainsborough Trinity – perched ominously on the edge of the play-offs – and South Shields, who have won all 11 of their home games this season, while current leaders Nantwich Town will also visit Cantilever Park.

Yellows beat well-fancied South Shields 3-0 at Cantilever Park in September, but make the daunting return trip next month. Picture by John Hopkins

If they are still in touch at the top when February turns to March, the title charge is officially on and hope may well start to turn to expectation.

For what it’s worth, I think many can confidently predict a play-off finish at least. It would take a pretty spectacular collapse for that not to happen, but there is a long way to go.

Whatever happens, the next three months or so should be one hell of a ride.