A look at the first half of Warrington Town's season

While the headline will no doubt be the departure of manager Paul Carden last month, it has been a promising first half to the season for Yellows.

Sports reporter Matt Turner looks at their half-term report…

How things look at halfway

Town reach the midpoint of their season sat in fifth – the final play-off spot – in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

Of their 21 games, they have won 10, drawn seven and lost four. They have netted 32 goals and conceded 21.

> Check out all the reaction from Yellows' 1-1 draw with Radcliffe last night here

Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Radcliffe marked the halfway point of Warrington Town's season. Picture by Karl Vallantine

What they’ve done well

A quality of Warrington Town teams over the past few years has been that they are a tough nut to crack.

That has certainly shone through this season – their four league defeats is only bettered by league leaders Buxton, who have lost just once in the league. Fourth-placed South Shields have also only lost four times.

When they have taken the lead in a game, they have generally kept it.

They have won 13 of 16 games having scored first and have lost only once – a 3-2 home defeat to Basford United in September in which they were 2-0 up before Josh Amis was sent off.

That game concluded a difficult month that also saw them lose away at South Shields, concede a last-gasp equaliser to draw 2-2 with Buxton – a game they led twice – and be dumped out of the FA Cup by lower-ranked Marine.

It is a run that could have easily thrown them off course but since that Basford loss, they have not been beaten in the league.

The 3-2 loss to Basford United in September - the only time this season Yellows have lost having scored first - was part of a difficult September. Picture by Lewis Tate

And so far at least, the departure of long-serving manager Paul Carden to AFC Telford United has not hindered them, with Mark Beesley taking up the baton and overseeing a win and three draws – albeit with one ending in a penalty shoot-out loss – in his four games.

What they could do better

The pace being set at the top of the table is relentless and if Town are to close the gap, they need to start turning more draws into wins.

And while they have not been behind in too many games this season and they have recovered four points from losing positions, they are also yet to win a game in which they have conceded first.

They could also do with easing the goalscoring load on Jordan Buckley, who has scored 13 of their 32 league goals so far – Matt Grivosti is the next highest league goalscorer with five.

Matt Grivosti has scored five league goals for Yellows this season. Picture by Darren Murphy

Others need to be contributing more. For example, Bohan Dixon – a regular and reliable source of midfield goals over the years – is yet to score this season.

If they are to keep pace with and close up to those above – as well as repel those below – Buckley cannot be expected to carry the can alone.

What the manager thinks

"I think we're in a position of strength," said Yellows boss Mark Beesley.

"We're getting a couple of injured players back and we're in a good position to attack the second half of the season.

"I think we need to turn one or two draws into wins, which hopefully will happen going forward.

"From our point of view, we're unbeaten in a long time and it's all to play for."

Yellows boss Mark Beesley. Picture by John Hopkins

Player of the season so far

It is difficult to look beyond Buckley as without his goals, Yellows would be in a far worse position.

The frontman’s pace and work rate have caught the eye since he joined the club just before the first Covid shutdown but now, he has added more of a clinical edge to his game.

He has worked on getting himself into more goalscoring positions and he is seeing the fruits of his labour – he has scored more goals from open play than anybody else in the division.

Honourable mentions can also be made for impressive goalkeeper Dan Atherton, who has kept 12 clean sheets so far this season, and the ever-versatile Mitch Duggan it is no coincidence that the team’s performances have improved since Sean Williams’ return from Altrincham.

Jordan Buckley has 13 goals already this season. Picture by Mike Boden

Aims for the rest of the season

Keep their squad together, fit and firing.

Players who have been struggling through injury are starting to make their way back, defender Evan Gumbs being a prime example – he has been plagued by serious injuries but has started the past three games having returned to fitness on loan at Runcorn Linnets.

The hope is Matty McDonald will do the same – the midfielder will spend the next few weeks at Bootle having returned from a hamstring problem. When fit, he is said to be a serious contender for a starting role.

Attacking full-back Eddie Clarke will also not be too far away while they will aim to hold off admiring glances from elsewhere for the likes of Buckley and Grivosti until at least the end of the season.

From the platform they have built themselves, anything other than a play-off place will feel like a disappointment.