WHATEVER happens in the coming weeks, Warrington Town can look back on their season with pride.

Yellows host play-off chasing Scarborough Athletic on Saturday, kick-off 3pm, knowing that, once again, only victory will do if they are to keep their Evo-Stik Premier Division title challenge alive.

Despite earning six points this week – Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Whitby Town followed a 2-0 victory at Matlock Town on Saturday – Paul Carden’s men remain four points behind leaders Farsley Celtic.

> Cusani stunner keeps Yellows alive in title race

They can now finish no lower than third place – a position Carden says was difficult to see his side ending up in at the start of the season.

“When me and Toby spoke in the summer, we set out to try and sneak into the play-offs,” he said.

“I knew it would be tough because of the likes of South Shields and Scarborough coming into the league.

“You hear stories of the wages they are paying, Farsley have upped their budget and there are clubs in and around the bottom end who have thrown money at it.

“It was going to be really tough to finish where we are, but it has been a credit to the players.

“They are a really good set of lads and it doesn’t half help that they have ability to go with it.

“Let’s see where these next four games take us.”

Warrington Guardian:

Paul Carden celebrates the winner against Whitby Town with goalscorer Marcus Cusani. Picture by John Hopkins

While this season truly has been a team effort for Yellows, two of their players were honoured individually at the league’s awards ceremony on Sunday.

Thanks to their leading roles in ensuring Town have the competition’s best defensive record, skipper Mark Roberts and fellow centre-half Dave Raven were named in the Evo-Stik Premier Division team of the year.

> Yellows pair named in team of the year

The experienced duo have been central to Yellows conceding just 30 goals all season and Carden says their honour is richly deserved.

“I read Sir Alex Ferguson’s book and he talks about having managers on the pitch – Robbo and Dave do that for us,” he said.

“They’re not getting paid big money, but they’re ambitious and still have hunger to succeed. It’s evident.

“They don’t shout, rant or rave. They go about things in a calm way and it rubs off on the rest of the team.

“One thing as well that is so noticeable is their professionalism.

“I don’t think they have had five bookings between them. They very rarely expose themselves and get the team organised.

“It’s totally justified and deserved as they are the best centre-halves in the league.”