PAUL Carden says a willingness to be brave earned Warrington Town their crucial victory over Whitby Town.

As the game drifted towards a draw that would likely have been terminal for Yellows’ title chances, substitute Marcus Cusani’s wonder goal 10 minutes from time earned a 1-0 win at Cantilever Park.

They saw out a victory that secures them a third-place finish – and a home play-off semi-final – at the very least.

Carden thought his side were “wasteful” in attacking areas in the main but praised “a really good team performance.”

Warrington Guardian:

All smiles for Marcus Cusani after his winning goal against Whitby Town. Picture by John Hopkins

“We were brave with it,” he said.

“We took Tony (Gray) off who was a bit leggy and as well as Bohan (Dixon) did in the second half on Saturday, it didn’t happen for him tonight.

“We made the change early and put Josh (Amis) on. He looked a handful.

“We’ve effectively ended the game playing 4-2-4. On another day, with the openings we created, Jack Dunn could have had four goals.

“Other than Robbie Evans hitting the post, I thought we were quite wasteful with our attempts at goal.

“We played some really good stuff in both halves. It was a bit like a basketball game in the first half as it was a bit end-to-end.

“When we did the right things organisationally and our wingers weren’t dropping too deep, we were a bit braver.

“We started a bit tetchy, they probably shaded it for 10 minutes after that but we went into half time the stronger team. We came out and played really good stuff in the second half.

“I thought it was a really good team performance from us.

“We played well in the second half on Saturday and we wanted a longer period of good play – I think we got that.”

Cusani’s goal was his second since signing for the club from Ashton Athletic last month.

His curling left-footed strike lit up Cantilever Park but Carden insists it did not take him by surprise.

> Cusani stunner helps Yellows keep title hopes alive

“He found the first couple of training sessions tough in terms of the pace," he said.

“That’s understandable as he was stepping up a level, but he’s made an impact every time he’s come on.

“The lads have really taken to him – not only because he’s a good lad but they see what he does in training.

“He scores the kind of goal he scored tonight all the time in training.”

Town are hanging onto the coattails of the Evo-Stik Premier Division’s top two – they trail leaders Farsley Celtic by four points and second-place South Shields by three with four games remaining.

Both those sides also won on Tuesday night and Carden says, whatever happens, he has enjoyed being part of the three-way tussle for the title.

“I expected Farsley and South Shields to win. I never expect them to drop points because they are two good teams,” he said.

“We can only win our own games. If we do that, we can’t do anymore.

“If we win all our games and they do, we’ve still had a good season.

“If someone slips up along the way, who knows?

“Whatever happens, all three clubs have had a really good go at it and a great tussle.”

Yellows are at home again on Saturday as play-off chasing Scarborough Athletic visit Cantilever Park.