Warrington Town to face Matlock Town in play-off semi-final

Yellows will face Matlock Town, who snatched fifth spot by beating Marine in today’s final round of regular-season games, at Cantilever Park in midweek.

> Full ticket details for Warrington Town's play-off semi final

Mark Beesley’s side secured a second-place finish - their highest ever league finish - with a 3-1 victory over Hyde United, who came into the last day in possession of the final play-off place.

Josh Amis struck twice in the first half to put Town in command before Ajay Leitch-Smith pulled a goal back late on to set up a grandstand finish.

Josh Amis scores his second goal against Hyde (Image: Lewis Tate)

Yellows kept their cool, though, and substitute Jordan Buckley added a third goal in injury time in front of more than 1,400 fans at Cantilever Park.

"Today was symbolic of how we’ve been in my opinion as I thought we were excellent," he said.

"We’ve got lads playing with little, niggly injuries but at times, we were outstanding.

"These are a good team but we’ve won pretty comfortably and we could have scored a few more. That’s testament to the level of players we have and the standard they’ve been at for most of the season.

"For this group of players to get the club its highest ever league finish is an outstanding achievement and people should be very proud of them.

"We’ve pushed a team who are full time really close and now we need to take this attitude into Tuesday."

Read Matt Turner's full verdict below

DERAILED by the South Shields loss? Preserving their energy for the play-offs? Not a bit of it…

They may have gone into the final day firmly in the knowledge that their spot in the shake-up was long since secure, but Warrington Town were insistent their foot would remain on the gas.

So it proved, to the extent that you would have been forgiven for thinking it was them desperate for a win to break into the top five.

They set about Hyde with the kind of ruthless efficiency which has marked out the stunning, season-defining run they have put together since November.

Once Josh Amis had accepted the gift handed to him by his former Town teammate Dan Atherton to put his side ahead, there was no looking back – Yellows remain unbeaten in games in which they have scored first this season.

Josh Amis robs former Town keeper Dan Atherton to open the scoring (Image: Lewis Tate)

The big striker is in the kind of hot streak that makes him among the most feared frontmen at this level, with his second goal displaying the killer instinct of a man high on confidence.

With Amis’ imposing figure leading the line, the youthful triumvirate of Connor Woods, Matty McDonald and Luke Duffy buzzed around him with intent and tormented the Tigers defenders all afternoon.

They looked like scoring whenever they crossed the halfway line in the first half and the second was largely a non-event until Ajay Leitch-Smith threatened to make things interesting by pulling a goal back for the visitors.

From then on, Mark Beesley will no doubt have seen the seven minutes that remained as a test – they may have had this kind of scenario in the play-offs, how would they handle it?

The answer? In the kind of cool, calm and collected manner they seem to be dealing with everything at the moment.

There was even time for Jordan Buckley to give a timely reminder as to his capabilities off the bench with an accomplished finish to seal the points.

Jordan Buckley wheels away after scoring Town's third goal (Image: Sean Walsh)

Having secured second place and therefore their highest ever league finish, this squad have already made history regardless of what happens in the coming days.

However, they will not be satisfied unless they take that fabled final step and if they continue to show this kind of form, they will take some stopping.

And so to Tuesday as Matlock Town, who have stormed through the pack to snatch a play-off spot, arrive to start the do-or-die phase of the season.

Get your tickets, it's going to be a belter!

Warrington Town: Thompson, Walker, White, Hannigan, Duggan, Harris (Williams), Woods (Buckley-Ricketts), McDonald, Amis (Buckley), Dixon, Duffy. Subs not used: Mols, Warren