Preview: Morpeth Town vs Warrington Town

Warrington Town conclude their 2025/26 Northern Premier League campaign with a trip to Morpeth Town on Saturday.

The Yellows will be aiming to end their campaign on a high after seeing their two-goal advantage overturned in the final fixture at the Cal.Delivery Stadium last weekend, as Workington secured their survival in the division with a 3-2 comeback victory.

This weekend, Paul Carden's side makes the long journey to the north-east to face Morpeth Town, who sit three points adrift of safety, and the Yellows will be expecting a full-throttle performance from the Highwaymen, with their future in the NPL Premier Division on the line.

Below, we've compiled everything you need to know ahead of the fixture.

Team news

Fullback Jack Doyle is a doubt for tomorrow's trip to Morpeth after he was substituted in the second-half of last weekend's defeat against Workington with a hamstring injury.

Elliott Morris will be assessed after he was forced off with a knock to his hip.

Josh Shaw could return to the squad for the first time since the Ilkeston Town game three weeks ago.

Paul Carden preview

Article first published in the Warrington Guardian.

As the season reaches its climax, Warrington Town will be forced to watch on enviously.

And in order to make sure that is not the case next time around, manager Paul Carden has been pretty clear about what is required of the players he brings in.

With their play-off hopes having long since faded away, Yellows are now set to finish in the bottom half of the Northern Premier League Premier Division table – an incredibly disappointing return having made promotion their aim in the summer.

They head to Morpeth Town, who must win and hope for a mathematical improbability to avoid relegation, for their final game of the season sitting 14th and unable to finish any higher than 11th.

Carden says their last home match of the campaign on Saturday in which they surrendered a position of strength to lose to struggling Workington was a perfect encapsulation of their season – Elliot Morris and Reece Daly struck to put them 2-0 ahead at half time, only for the Cumbrians to storm back and win 3-2.

And he affirmed that in the summer, his priority would be to recruit players who will not be afraid to challenge each other when the going gets tough.

“What our season’s been about was probably condensed into 90 minutes,” he said.

“We were really good value in the first half – we played some good stuff and scored at good times. We were in a good place and the disappointment was it wasn’t more.

“We talk about our underbelly – we’ve got too many of that type.

“Whilst you can have a couple in your squad, we’ve probably got too many nice lads who don’t like to offend and put it on one another when it matters, and it’s reflected in performances.

“We’ve had teams here over the years that have had personality and very rarely lose from going in front, and we don’t have enough of that so recruitment is vital in the summer.

“There’s no doubt that they’re good players, but we’ve been found wanting when questions have been asked of us.

“We’ve got to change it – we’ve got to recruit the type of players that know how to dig in, manage games and get an understanding of your opponent.”

Match information

Saturday's Northern Premier League fixture at Craik Park kicks off at 3pm. Match tickets, available to buy at the turnstiles, are priced as follows:

• Adults: £12
• Concessions: £8
• Under 16s: £4

Unfortunately, there will be no live coverage of the final day fixture against Morpeth Town on Yellows Radio. Supporters can follow live updates from the game on our X (Twitter) feed.