PAUL Carden hit out at the “acceptance” of defeat to Ashton United once his Warrington Town side fell behind.

Despite having the better of the chances, Yellows went a goal down as Sam Sheridan struck what turned out to be the winning goal midway through the second half.

It was enough to knock Town out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle and condemn them to a fourth home loss of the season.

“I thought we were the better team in the first half,” Carden said.

“We had two good chances to take the lead and a penalty shout as well.

“We seemed to be okay for an hour but then we fell away from the things we are good at.

“It just became a mess then and there was acceptance of the result.

“We’re getting people in the box but we’re not getting people in the box who want to score.

“Jack Banister’s made a run across the goal and it’s not a great cross from Dylan (Vassallo), but I can’t remember too many instances like that where we got across people in the box.

“Tony (McMillan) has made a good save before they score. That should really wake us up but it didn’t.

“They score and it’s like we accepted the result from then on.

“That’s not the way we are, but there is that acceptance about us at the minute.”

There were strong appeals for a Yellows penalty in the first half as Tony Gray appeared to be brought down by a clumsy challenge by Robins striker Josh Wilson.

Referee Ian Walsh was unmoved and while Carden thought the penalty was “nailed-on,” he focused more on his side’s inability to help isolated frontman Gray.

“If we’re not going to get runners off Tony Gray, we might as well not play him,” he said.

“We’re taking away what he’s good at as we’re not stretching the game in behind.

“There’s things we need to look at and think about.

“I thought the possible penalty in the first half was nailed-on. Josh Wilson didn’t have a clue where Tony was and he’s not touched the ball.

“Sometimes you don’t get then when you’re on the run we’re on. You don’t get them goals that get you a lift.

“Clearly, we’re not playing with much confidence at the moment and it’s telling.”