Guardian sports reporter Matt Turner assesses the state of play in Warrington Town's promotion push...

AS Warrington Town’s season moves further into its business end, Paul Carden has always insisted that there are plenty more twists and turns to come in the title race.

In the past two weeks, that has been in evidence more than ever as both Yellows and main challengers Farsley Celtic suffered defeats in games most would have expected them to win.

In the space of a week, Yellows have gone from having their fate in their own hands to having to rely on others – and we can expect that to fluctuate in the coming weeks.

South Shields cannot be discounted either as, thanks to their game in hand, they have crept ominously up behind Town in third place.

There are eight games remaining and 24 points to play for. There is so much scope for change.

However, even with just under a quarter of the season left, there is very little room for error.

Even with the mitigating circumstances of playing for 80 minutes with 10 men, Yellows’ 3-2 defeat to Stafford Rangers has shown a small chink in the armour.

The fact Farsley won to leapfrog them and South Shields did likewise to close the gap behind them shows how quickly things can change.

Allowing one defeat to turn into back-to-back losses may end up proving terminal for any of the teams involved in this tightest of races.

Now is the time for cool heads and thankfully, Yellows have plenty of experience in their dressing room.

The likes of Mark Roberts, Dave Raven and Shaun Beeley have been there and done it all before. They among others will be vital in helping Town get back on course.

Warrington Guardian:

The experience of the likes of Dave Raven will be critical in the season's closing weeks. Picture by John Hopkins

Town fell victim to the play-offs last season and this year’s race for the final spot in the National League North holds even more jeopardy.

Even winning the Evo-Stik Premier Division play-offs will not guarantee promotion as the winner will face a final ‘super play-off’ against the South Premier Division play-off victors, with teams such as Stourbridge and Stratford Town in contention.

That system will be scrapped after this season, so automatic promotion has arguably never had greater significance.

It is refreshing to finally have a genuine title race unfolding after the likes of Altrincham and Blyth Spartans have won the league at a canter in the past couple of years.

The destination of the title has been all but decided by this point in recent years, but now it remains wide open.

For Yellows fans, there will be more nail-biting weekends to come – but what a ride they are on.