Mark Beesley reacts to FA Trophy exit

Warrington Town manager Mark Beesley admits Saturday couldn’t have gone much worse after seeing his side exit the FA Trophy at the first hurdle. 

The Yellows entered the competition at the second round stage but were unable to get the better of a Blyth Spartans side that scored two late goals to seal their second win of the season at the UNIS Compliance Stadium.

It looked like Town were in the ascendancy when Sean Williams’ free-kick from the right was turned into his own net by Spartans substitute Harrison Clark with 20 minutes to go.

That drew the teams level at 1-1, but Cedric Main steered his side ahead from close range in the 83rd minute before Nicky Deverdics’ injury-time penalty sealed the win.

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Defeat also came at a cost for Town as Jordan Buckley was forced off midway through the first half with a suspected groin injury.

“It’s very disappointing. We needed to get through today and we didn’t,” Beesley said post-match.

“I didn’t think there was much in the game, but we gave a really poor goal away.

“We stepped onto them in the second half and caused them problems. We should have had a penalty but we just don’t get them – it just seems to be that way at the minute.

“It’s another really poor goal to give away to go to 2-1. We weren’t switched on or focused enough. We were ball-watching and they got through us.

“We’ve had good chances again, but we’ve given poor goals away again. There’s a lot that’s happened in that game that we’re not happy with, and we need to address it quickly.

“Everybody understands the situation the club is in, which is why we were desperate to go through. It’s a blow. Of course the league is important, but for me the Trophy is as important, so it’s very disappointing.

“I’m disappointed in the manner in which we’ve gone out, even though on another day, we probably win.

“We’ve got an injury and we’re out of the Trophy with a home defeat – it probably couldn’t have gone much worse.”

The turnaround is quick, with the Yellows back on their travels on Tuesday night. They make the long trip north to Durham, to face a Darlington side with just three wins to show from their 18 league matches so far this season.

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Beesley admits the game may have come at the right time as his depleted squad looks to respond quickly.

“It’s always going to be tough with 14 players. We’re down to 13 now with someone going off injured, so we’re just going to have to see how we are,” he added.

“We can address it quickly – back to league action on Tuesday, we need to get a reaction like last time we lost in the league.

“We haven’t lost that many in the league as of late, but I’m more disappointed with today because we needed to get through and I wanted us to get through. We had chances to win but it’s a disappointing result for us.”

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