MARK Beesley says his Warrington Town gave themselves “a mountain to climb” as they lost to Gainsborough Trinity on Tuesday evening.
Two goals in six first-half minutes from Liam Waldock ensured the visitors left Cantilever Park with three points, ending Town’s three-match unbeaten run in the process.
Having finished off a crisp counter-attack to put his side ahead, Waldock then produced another assured finish shortly afterwards after Yellows were dispossessed deep inside their own half.
Town conceded a half-time deficit for the third game in a row and while they recovered to win at Hebburn Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday and draw against Warrington Rylands last week, they could not fight back this time despite an improved second-half showing.
Beesley’s squad were further beset by injuries, with Josh Amis missing the game through illness to join fellow forwards Jordan Buckley, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Mikey Howard on the sidelines.
Furthermore, Josh Seary and Stefan Mols were only fit enough for the bench while Bohan Dixon started a three-match ban for his sending-off against Rylands.
Beesley insisted the absentees were not an excuse for the result but admitted they were a contributing factor.
“At 2-0 down, we gave ourselves a mountain to climb in that second half,” he said.
“We created some really good opportunities but we didn’t have a forward to finish them off and that was pretty evident.
“The people we’ve got out injured isn’t an excuse but it is a reason. The calibre of player we have missing is going to affect the team, but we’ve got to be better at the other end.
“If you can’t score, don’t lose and we lost.
“We’re not good at both ends at the moment – we’ve brought Connor (Woods) in and he's worked hard playing up front on his own, but we haven’t got enough quality in and around him.
“We didn’t get enough people in the box at times.
“We’re giving ourselves mountains to climb and we’re having to change things all the time to get back into games.
“It shouldn’t be like that – we should be changing to try and win games but if you’re giving teams two-goal starts, you’re not going to win many.
“We’re conceding two or three chances per game and they’re all going in and at the other end, we’re needing 10 to score – it’s not a recipe for many points.”
Read Matt Turner's verdict on the game below
THIS was supposed to be a test of whether or not Warrington Town could sustain the recovery of sorts they have put together of late.
The answer to that particular question was an unfortunate “no.”
Despite huffing and puffing after the break, they never really showed two many signs of hauling back a two-goal half-time deficit for the second home game running.
Gainsborough can feel thoroughly satisfied with their night’s work in what was a perfect away performance from them.
They sat in an organised block and waited for Town to give them a chance to break. When those chances came, they streamed forward with pace, bravery and incision.
Veteran lone frontman Clayton Donaldson led the line supremely, showing exactly why he has hundreds of Football League appearances to his name and around him, the Holy Blues buzzed and bristled.
Their goals were well-taken – a rapier-like counter-attack and a neat move resulting in crisp finishes for Liam Waldock to put them in a position of strength they never looked like surrendering.
Town’s issues in creating chances came firmly to the fore and on this occasion, they can point to having a paper-thin squad short of several key players particularly in attacking areas.
Any team at this level would miss the likes of Jordan Buckley, Josh Amis, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Mikey Howard while Stefan Mols was fit enough only for a 15-minute cameo off the bench.
Donaldson’s success at the other end showed just how much Yellows missed the physical presence of Amis up front.
While Connor Woods tried and tried, he was ultimately no match for Trinity defenders Hayden Cann and Dylan Cogill physically.
With no returns likely at least in the short-term, it is critical Town find a way to make do and mend.
Having put together a bit of a mini-revival of sorts recently, they have to start from square one again.
Town: Thompson, Duggan, White, Hannigan (Seary), Gumbs, Harris, Walker (Clarke), Williams (Mols), Woods, McDonald, Duffy. Subs not used: Murray, Mfuni
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