IF South Shields were banking on Tuesday’s semi-final win over Nantwich taking too much out of the Warrington Town tank, they were sadly mistaken.

They met a Yellows side determined not to make this their last hurrah of a memorable season.

Thanks to substitute Josh Amis’ late winner at a packed Mariners’ Park, they live to fight another day.

For the second time this season, they succeeded where nobody else managed – they entered the lion’s den and solved the South Shields conundrum.

Warrington Guardian:

Yellows celebrate their victory. Picture by John Hopkins

He was one of two substitutes introduced by Paul Carden to make a telling impact, with Dylan Vassallo equalising having come off the bench earlier.

Much like Tuesday night, they trailed at the break – Josh Gillies’ wonder strike separating the sides at the break.

Town made an assured start, hassling the home defence and denying them time to get their passing game going.

It was them who made the early running – Tony Gray firing straight at Mariners keeper Liam Connell before Jack Dunn fired a free kick straight into his arms.

Then, a big blow as Dunn – a key attacking outlet both in general play and with the dead ball – went down injured and had to be replaced.

Vassallo came on but it took Yellows a while to adjust to Dunn’s absence. It cost them dearly.

South Shields had only really threatened from set pieces but took the lead with a moment of great individual quality.

After bringing the ball down and shielding it successfully, Gillies worked space for himself to curl a stunning effort into the top corner.

That clicked the hosts into gear as they enjoyed an almost complete monopoly of possession.

However, it was not penetrative and slowly but surely, Yellows found a foothold again.

They finished the half on the front foot and the hosts were grateful for the half-time whistle when it came.

The pattern continued after the break, with Mackreth having a shot blocked at close range, but they were almost hit with a sucker-punch.

Carl Finnigan received a delicious through-ball and forced a save from McMillan before Dave Raven was well placed to block Nathan Lowe’s follow-up.

Amis was thrown on to give Town more of a physical presence, and it paid off midway through the second half.

Mackreth sped down the right and crossed for Amis to flick on, with Vassallo waiting to lash into the roof of the net.

Yellows continued to boss things – Robbie Evans forced Connell to tip his shot over before Mark Roberts headed the resulting corner wide.

Nothing was coming back from the hosts, who by now had thrown the towering Ben Harmison on up front with the hope he would make a similar impact to Amis.

He didn’t – and the big man at the other end showed him how it was done.

Having spun on Ben Garrity’s flick on, he rifled a volley past Connell at his near post.

Warrington Guardian:

The celebrations that followed Josh Amis' winner. Picture by John Hopkins

Shields became desperate and long balls rained down upon the Town box, but a David Foley snapshot into the side netting aside, they remained untroubled to spark jubilant scenes in the away end.

Warrington Town: McMillan, Beeley, Whittle, Garrity, Roberts, Raven, Dixon (Amis), Evans, Gray, Dunn (Vassallo), Mackreth (Benjamin). Subs not used: Cusani, Duggan