Matty McDonald: We need to bring our A-game

Warrington Town midfielder Matty McDonald says the players need to focus on their own game ahead of Monday’s all-important Northern Premier League play-off final.

It is the third time in a row that the Yellows have made it to the play-off final. 

They won the play-offs in 2019 before losing against Kings Lynn Town in a one-off Super Final, meaning they missed out on promotion.

Last year against Scarborough Athletic, they fell at the final hurdle, falling to an agonising 2-1 defeat at the Flamingo Land Stadium.

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McDonald was plagued by injury during the 2021/22 campaign and subsequently spent time on loan at Bootle in a bid to return to fitness. He says that spurred him on to try and achieve the ultimate goal of promotion this year.

“It was tough last season, not playing much and then watching the lads in the play-off final just fall short,” he said.

“That gave me extra motivation to go and have a good season personally, and then go and do one better this year and get up to the league above. 

“Obviously the goal is to play as high as we can, and it would be great for that to happen this year.

“We know the goal now is just to win the last game, and I think the lads have earned it over the course of the season. We need to go and make sure we get what we have worked all year for. 

“We have our way of playing, and we just need to make sure we play our game and not let the occasion change that.”

The Yellows have faced the Brig twice this season, with one win apiece at their respective grounds.

The most recent encounter saw Mark Beesley’s side win 1-0 at Cantilever Park, although McDonald believes it will not count for much, considering the fact that Town played with 10 men for almost the entire match following Sean Williams’ red card inside a minute.

MATCH PREVIEW: Bamber Bridge (H)

“The last game is hard to judge, because the game’s not a usual one,” he added. “It’s often hard to play against 10, and so I expect it to be a very different game.

“Bamber Bridge finished third in the Northern Premier League for a reason, so we need to be on our A-game to be able to get what we want, because they will be right up for it.”

You can read more from Matty McDonald in Monday’s matchday programme, which will be available to purchase for just £2 at Cantilever Park.