A massive statement

BEFORE Saturday, no team that had arrived at South Shields’ Mariners Park and come away with all the spoils.

Indeed only one side – Bamber Bridge last weekend – had come away with anything at all.

If that is not enough to put this Yellows victory into context, nothing will.

A point from this game would have been considered a good result – and it probably still would have been had the hosts completed their comeback from two goals down.

However, the fact Town held on sends out a huge statement of intent to their promotion rivals.

In a season of eye-catching results and performances, this has to be the best. It may even be considered as one of the best league results in the club’s recent history.

READ > How Yellows conquered South Shields fortress

Warrington Guardian:

Jack Dunn is congratulated on scoring Yellows' second goal. Picture by John Hopkins

Fighting for each other

AS the clock ticked over into injury time at Mariners Park, South Shields were really banging on the door.

They had thrown on the towering Ben Harmison up front and as a result, long balls rained down on the Yellows penalty area.

Their goal led a bit of a charmed life late on, but Yellows deserved to hold out thanks to the sheer guts and determination they showed to see out the victory in an Alamo-style effort.

There were plenty of tired bodies out there – everyone in yellow ran their blood to water for their teammates, their manager and their supporters.

They have shown they can outclass teams, but this was the truest sign yet that they can tough it out with the best of them.

READ > Carden hails Yellows' discipline in South Shields victory

Warrington Guardian:

The Yellows defence were heroic in their efforts to keep South Shields out. Picture by John Hopkins

Imperious Beeley

WHILE impressive youngster Ben Garrity has been a mainstay of the Yellows midfield, the job of partnering him has often rotated between Shaun Beeley and Robbie Evans.

The former got the nod again today – and he put on a midfield display for the ages.

Anything that needed heading got headed, anyone who needed tackling got tackled and he used every ounce of his experience to get his team out of trouble when they really needed it.

In Beeley, Paul Carden has a real fighter in that central area and it is characters like him that any title-chasing team needs at this stage of the season.

Warrington Guardian:

Shaun Beeley was peerless in the Yellows midfield. Picture by John Hopkins

Amis fires again

EVERYTHING Josh Amis touches at the moment is turning to goals.

For a man who found the back of the net – and even game time in general – so hard to come by in the first half of the season, the transformation has been remarkable.

His physical presence proved a key outlet to get Yellows up the pitch and when his chance came, he took it with all the confidence of a striker on the goal-scoring run of his life.

It is now nine goals in his past seven appearances for the big frontman – and 13 overall for the season. In this kind of form, the magic 20-goal mark is well within his sights.

The value of having a striker in this kind of shape at this critical stage cannot be underestimated.

Warrington Guardian:

Josh Amis stretches to score the opening goal at Mariners Park. Picture by John Hopkins

The race heats up

MAKE no mistake, this result decides nothing and by no means rules South Shields out of this title race.

However, Yellows and Farsley now have a five-point cushion over the Mariners as the season ticks towards the business end.

Town are behind Farsley on goals scored alone with the Yorkshiremen having a game in hand – and neither side is showing any sign of blinking.

Another big test awaits Town next week in the shape of fourth-place Nantwich Town, who visit Cantilever Park on Saturday.

A Yellows victory would put them 11 points clear of their Cheshire rivals and in every probability, make it a three-way shoot-out for automatic promotion.

Either way, it is fantastic to have a genuine title race being played out before our eyes.

Warrington Guardian:

Paul Carden's side face Cheshire rivals Nantwich Town in their next game on Saturday. Picture by John Hopkins