Mark Beesley gives verdict on Guiseley draw

Warrington Town manager Mark Beesley insists their goalless draw against Guiseley may prove to be a good point, given the adversity they faced in the build-up to the match. 

The Yellows were without Josh Amis (back) and Jordan Buckley (illness), meaning Isaac Buckley-Ricketts was tasked with leading the line.

There proved to be no way through for either side, with the Yellows creating the better chances as Buckley-Ricketts saw an early finish ruled out for offside, Dec Walker curled just wide and Matty McDonald fired straight at Lions goalkeeper Cam Mason. 

Speaking post-match, Beesley laid bare the difficult preparations the Yellows endured ahead of the fixture. 

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“It’s mixed emotions,” he said. “We’ve had a really tough week behind the scenes. At one point, we had seven or eight in the treatment room. 

“Bohan played today when he had no right to. He strapped his ankle up after a horrendous tackle last week.

“Tom Hannigan has been sick and he played, so fair play to those two.

“We’re down on numbers because of illness and injury, so in hindsight it could be a good point, but it’s tinged with a little bit of disappointment because in the second half there was only one team that was going to win it, and that was us.”

Discussing their options in the forward areas, Beesley added: “It’s the same thing that’s happened all season where we’ve been missing our main two strikers, and it happened again today. 

“That’s a big loss because they’re two big characters and players. 

“They score a lot of goals and we’ve missed them for 70% of the season, so to be where we are is a credit to the other members of the squad.”

The Yellows were indebted early in the second half to goalkeeper Tony Thompson, who pulled off a fine save to deny Courtney Meppen-Walter. 

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Beesley was quick to credit his number one following the goalless draw.

“Over the last six weeks, he’s gone up a level, with his performance and everything about him. We knew what we were getting in the summer,” he said.

“At times he doesn’t have a lot to do, but when called upon at the moment he does everything right. 

“With the one save he had to do, he made it well, and that’s what we need him to do.”