PAUL Carden cut a frustrated figure after watching his Warrington Town side draw with Basford United.

Jack Dunn’s first-half wonder strike had put them on course for a vital win at Cantilever Park, only for Coury Grantham to equalise late on for the Nottingham outfit.

Yellows missed the chance to close the gap on leaders South Shields to one point and Carden was disappointed with his side’s second half display.

“I said at half time not to let it be a game of two halves, but we did unfortunately,” he said.

“I don’t think we came out with any real vigour about us after half time.

“The first-half showing probably deserved two or three goals. We’ve hit the woodwork and their keeper has made two or three top saves to keep the scoreline down.

“We had so much control in the first half and they weren’t hurting us at all.

“The second half got a bit scrappy. We had one or two carrying knocks which didn’t help but I’m still disappointed with the manner of the goal we conceded.

“It comes from a throw in where we outnumber them out wide and in the box. It was really soft and poor concentration and it’s cost us points.

“Other than the superb save Tony (McMillan) makes, they’ve put a few crosses in the box and set-pieces but we’ve dealt with them and we should go on and win it.”

Defender Dave Raven had to be substituted early and Carden confirmed he had suffered a hamstring injury that could keep him out until the new year.

Steve Jennings and Tyrone Duffus also played on despite suffering hefty knocks.