WITH things getting continually difficult in the league, Mark Beesley believes a change of focus has come at the right time for Warrington Town.

Regardless of competition, however, he has demanded a response from his players as they prepare to host Curzon Ashton in the FA Cup second qualifying round tomorrow.

The draw has paired them with a National League North rival who beat them 4-1 at Cantilever Park on Bank Holiday Monday as part of the current difficult run Yellows find themselves on.

They are winless in five games, with the latest disappointment being a 3-0 defeat at Banbury United on Saturday – a performance Beesley labelled as his side’s worst since he took charge nearly two years ago.

“We need a response,” he said.

“The questions are getting asked about us all and we need to respond in the right way.

“I’ve got belief in them but they need to change.

“It’s come at the right time for us – we need a break from the league.

“We’ve got nine points from 10 games, which I think is under par in terms of where I think we should be.

“We’ve had a good look at the league now and we’re in for a tough year if we don’t change and improve.”

Town know all about the momentum and financial rewards a cup run can bring having catapulted themselves into the nation’s conscience with a run to the second round proper in 2014, including a televised 1-0 victory over League Two side Exeter City.

With ground improvements needed to ensure Cantilever Park meets the requirements for continued National League North football, progress in the FA Cup may be seen as more important this year.

However, Beesley says it would be unfair to put that additional pressure onto his players as they prepare to face The Nash.

“You can’t really predict the cup,” he said.

“We’ve got a team who beat us 4-1 the other week so it’s not a great draw, but we want a cup run of course.

“It brings confidence, it brings added finance – everything they bring is positive, but there’s no added pressure for it.

“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing to be fair. We just need a game.”