IN the grand scheme of things, the point his Warrington Town side took from the Boxing Day derby was one manager Paul Carden was happy to take.
And while he admits “indecisive moments” hampered their attempts to capitalise on Joe Rodwell-Grant giving them the lead at Warrington Rylands, he acknowledged his side had to ride out something of a storm having been pegged back.
Rodwell-Grant’s looping header from Jack Doyle’s corner looked set to send Yellows on their way to just a second away victory of the season, but Harrison Wood’s superb leveller ensured their lead lasted just nine minutes.
Rylands did most of the pushing thereafter but Carden said that within that, there were chances to exploit a lack of defensive shape from the hosts that they did not take.
“I thought it was a good game, to be honest,” he said.
“Like after the Hednesford game on Saturday, today was an entertaining draw.
“I thought we probably edged the first half a little bit without there being loads in it and then we started the second half really well, but a couple of indecisive moments allowed Rylands to grow into the game.
“To be fair to them, their front line is a threat and you can see why they’ve won so many games.
“They gamble and commit bodies forward, but they are open and the few occasions we had to exploit that, we didn’t really take hold of them.
“Max Thompson has had a couple of opportunities, Vells (Josh Vela) has had one where he’s tried to slide Liam Brazier through when he should have had a shot, Tweeds (Matt Tweedley) has had one that he hasn’t really got hold of.
“We haven’t really been as ruthless as I would have liked, but they really put it on us in the last 20-25 minutes.
“It’s a great goal they’ve scored, but we’ve got to defend it properly by getting to the ball and stopping it rather than backing off even if it’s a worldie.
“They’ve had another great effort that’s cracked the bar which was straight after our chance with Max at the back post.
“You never know what Boxing Day fixtures can throw up – sometimes they leave you scratching your head but a point here isn’t a bad point.”
