An opportunity missed?
WELL, that depends on your point of view.
On the face of it, dropping two points at home to a team in the relegation zone would seem like a poor result for Yellows.
When you consider two of the sides above them were playing each other and the other had their game postponed, it makes it even more frustrating.
However, anyone who watched the game would tell you Warrington should feel as thrilled with a point as they would with a victory.
They were very much below-par today – as below-par as they have been for a long time – and Paul Carden was right when he said they “robbed” Lancaster of two points.
So now, it’s either three games without a win or one defeat in 11. Again, it depends on your point of view.
READ > How Yellows snatched a point late on
Tony Gray's free kick flies into the top corner. Picture by John Hopkins
Old heads step up at both ends
TOWN have demonstrated a great balance between youth and experience this year.
Against Lancaster, though, it was the older heads in the side that shone through at both ends of the field.
Of course, the headlines will go to Tony Gray after his stunning free-kick in injury time to rescue a point.
He often laboured with little reward as Lancaster defended impressively, but in the end he came up with a moment of quality that has been the hallmark of a very impressive non-league career.
His contribution would have been insignificant, however, were it not for the heroics of Tony McMillan at the other end.
Were it not a number of excellent saves in both halves, the visitors would have been over the hill and far away long before Brad Carsley put them ahead seven minutes from time.
READ > Post-match reaction from Yellows boss Paul Carden
The two Tonys - Gray and McMillan - were pivotal for Yellows. Picture by John Hopkins
Show of character
THIS Warrington Town team do not like losing.
No team does, but only two teams have lost fewer games in the Evo-Stik Premier Division this season.
As previously mentioned, they did not play well in this game at all. They will be the first to admit that, but to put in that sort of display and still avoid defeat says something about the spirit in their team.
One goal down and with only 10 men on the field following Adam Hughes’ petulant red card, it would have been easy for Town to take this one on the chin and move on.
However, they never lost belief and were laying siege to the Lancaster goal in the minutes before Gray’s wonderful equaliser.
Jack Mackreth had his supply line largely cut off by Lancaster's defenders. Picture by John Hopkins
In praise of Lancaster
THIS piece cannot be written without praising Town’s struggling opposition for their performance.
They will no doubt be devastated that the three points they deserved were snatched away at the death, but they can take heart in how well they played.
Yellows were given no time on the ball thanks to the Dolly Blues’ high press and when they did win possession back, they were neat and tidy.
Captain Simon Wills was superb in the heart of the midfield, while the strike force of Matt Blinkhorn and Brad Carsley should supply the goals to turn their fortunes around.
They may sit in the relegation zone, but more performances like that will surely see them pull away from trouble.
Tony McMillan was forced into several good saves by an impressive Lancaster side. Picture by John Hopkins
Three points a must next week
WITH the results turning out how they did, Warrington could have finished this weekend in second place and just one point behind leaders South Shields.
They would have been disappointed with anything less than six points from these two home games that end the month of January, but now they can gain a maximum of four.
With that in mind, it is imperative that Yellows gain three points from next week’s home game against Grantham Town.
Three of their four games in February are against promotion contenders, including a daunting trip to face South Shields – a team who have won all 12 of their home games this season.
It would surprise nobody if the Mariners – the pre-season promotion favourites who are now ominously gathering momentum – stretched away into a decisive lead.
Town just have to hang on for as long as they can, but that has to start with three points against Grantham.
Yellows won 2-0 at Grantham Town back in November. Picture by John Hopkins
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