Preview: Warrington Town vs Banbury United

Warrington Town will take to the UNIS Compliance Stadium pitch for the final time in 2023 on Saturday, with Banbury United travelling north to do battle with the Yellows in the National League North. 

Mark Beesley’s side will have their eyes on the prize this weekend, with a win potentially lifting them 10 points clear of the relegation zone heading into Christmas.

Town will also be hellbent on avenging the disappointing 3-0 defeat they suffered at Spencer Stadium back in September.

Morale is high in the squad after picking up four points from their previous two matches and keeping back-to-back clean sheets in the process, with Saturday marking the start of a hectic 10 days which also includes back-to-back games against league heavyweights Chester on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Team news

Veteran defender Peter Clarke is pushing to start after making his return from injury as a second half substitute in last Saturday’s goalless draw at King’s Lynn Town.

There will be no Connor Woods or Bohan Dixon, who continue to serve the suspensions incurred as a result of their red cards against Hereford earlier in the month.

Dixon will be available against Chester on Boxing Day, with Woods eligible to feature in the Yellows’ opening game of 2024.

Tom Hannigan preview

Tom Hannigan says the squad need no added motivation ahead of today’s game against Banbury United – describing the return fixture earlier in the year as the club’s “lowest point of the season”.

The Yellows produced an out-of-sorts display and toiled in the Oxfordshire heat, falling to a 3-0 defeat against the Puritans in the reverse fixture.

Hannigan admits things are in a much better place now for the squad.

He said: “That game was probably our lowest point. We were well beaten at their place, and to be fair to them, they were on top form and it could have been more.

“That match stung for a while, and we’ll be out for revenge. I do feel we’re in a better place now, but we’ve got to back that up with a performance and three points.

“We feel we’ve been harder to play against for a couple of months now, without possibly getting the clean sheets to back that up, so to get consecutive clean sheets coming into Saturday gives confidence to all the team as well.”

Match information

Saturday’s National League North fixture at the UNIS Compliance Stadium kicks off at 3pm. Match tickets, available to buy online or at the turnstiles, are priced as follows:

Online ticket prices – 

• Adults: £12
• Concessions: £8
• Under 16s: £3

*There is a £1 booking fee per transaction.

Turnstile admission prices –

• Adults: £15
• Concessions: £10
• Under 16s: £3

For supporters who cannot attend, live audio coverage will be available via the Yellows Mixlr channel.

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