THE blend of youth and experience is often spoken about within the football world.

Warrington Town will feel like they have the right mix, with young players such as Stefan Mols and Matt Grivosti to name just two supported by the likes of Jay Harris, Mark Roberts and Jack Mackreth, who have played much of their careers higher up the pyramid.

As the race for a play-off place comes to a head, manager Mark Beesley wants his older players to help put their less experienced teammates in a position to shine.

With six games of their season remaining, Yellows are in pole position to secure a spot in the Northern Premier League Premier Division’s all-important top five.

They sit fifth with a two-point cushion over Whitby Town below them while also having a game in hand ahead of the visit of Mickleover – a side in mid-table but in good recent form – to Cantilever Park on Saturday.

“The experienced lads have got to give the platform for the younger guys – the likes of Matty Grivosti, Luke Duffy, Stef Mols – to go and express themselves,” Beesley said.

“If they do that, they will hurt teams.

“It’s important that they hold us together during tough periods while allowing the freedom for the younger players within the game.”

A run of two defeats from 12 games in 2022 has dragged Mickleover out of relegation danger but their record at Cantilever Park is a poor one having lost on all four visits.

They also arrive to face a Town squad in good shape physically, with long-term absentee Eddie Clarke close to being able to return from a groin injury.

On-loan Preston North End left-back Lewis Coulton is also available again after international duty, although striker Josh Amis is rated as “touch and go” due to the knee problem that kept him out of Saturday’s 2-0 win at Radcliffe.

“It’s headaches you want but it is very difficult,” Beesley said.

“We’ve got 18 players – soon to be 19 with Eddie Clarke on his way back – that could all play.

“It’s a tough one because you are going to have to leave players out from game to game.

“What I must say is that we do have a really good squad in that they don’t always agree with your decisions but they understand and they are professional about it.”

Those numbers will be boosted soon by the arrival of goalkeeper Josh Ollerenshaw and striker Michael Howard, who were signed on the NPL’s registration deadline day last week.

Both have been dual-registered with North West Counties League clubs – Ollerenshaw at Avro and Howard at Skelmersdale United – and must first complete their league season, scheduled to end this weekend, before becoming available.

“Josh is one we’ve been looking at for a while,” Beesley said.

“Our goalkeeping coach Mark Canning has sorted all that out for us which is good news.

“Mikey is a player we have watched numerous times and we’ve been looking at trying to do something with him.

“We’ve dual-registered him with Skelmersdale – he’s their player until the end of the season so first and foremost, he has to finish the season off well with them.

“Hopefully then moving forward, he can be a good player for us.”