Warrington Town 2 Hereford FC 0, National League North

They bounced back from Saturday's loss to lowly Oxford City by beating high-flying Hereford at Cantilever Park, ending the Bulls' unbeaten away record in the process.

One first-half minute proved to be decisive - Evan Gumbs headed Town in front after Connor Woods' free kick had hit the underside of the bar and seconds after the restart, Hereford had Sammy Robinson sent off for an ugly lunge on Jay Harris.

The match continued to be in the balance until injury time, when substitute Josh Amis strode through on the counter-attack to finish the game off.

Josh Amis wheels away to celebrate sealing the victory in injury time (Image: Sean Walsh)

Carden hails 'hard work, endeavour and teamwork'

In Carden's fourth game back in charge, this was the first time they had scored the first goal in a game since his return and it translated into a first home victory since the end of August.

It was also only Town's second clean sheet of the season and despite their opponents playing for most of the game with 10 men, the Yellows boss was under no illusions about how hard-earned their three points were.

"We got a response in abundance," he said.

"We spoke before the game about being tighter as a group on the pitch, not being as strung out and we spoke about the things that get you results – hard work, endeavour, teamwork.

"All of those things stick with good teams forever and I thought we had plenty of that against a really good team.

"I felt we started the game really well, but we had a spell after 20-25 minutes when we gave the ball away and we never really recovered for a while.

"We were under the cosh – we weathered it but we went in at half time wanting to get down the sides of them a bit more and keep the ball better.

"We did to a point, but we never really made the extra man count.

"I’ve got to give them credit because even with 10 men, I thought they were good but I always felt we could have got another goal.

"You can’t fault any of them – the subs that went on were outstanding. It is a small squad but when it’s great to get lads coming on from the bench and helping you grind out the win like we did.

"We played okay at times – we can play better but the big thing is the result here, because it’s been a long time. There’s a few things we can definitely build on."

Watch Carden's full post-match reaction below

Read Matt Turner's verdict on the game below

PAUL Carden was after a response – and he got a big one.

All of the cards seemed to be stacked against homesick Warrington Town against the National League North’s best travellers, with Hereford flying high in second spot at kick off.

However, Town appear to reserve their best performances – and indeed results – for the division’s bigger guns, and so it proved again.

They have now taken five points from games against the pre-kick off top three, with this precious victory going with draws on the road at Scunthorpe United and Chorley earlier in the campaign.

More importantly, however, it was a restoration of equilibrium following the huge disappointment of losing to Oxford City at the weekend.

For the third time in the last four games, they were helped out by their opponents failing to keep 11 men on the field but just before Sammy Robinson was dismissed, Town had carved out an advantage they would not relinquish.

Evan Gumbs – pressed into service in a deep midfield role – was on hand to head home the rebound after Connor Woods’ superb free kick had come off the underside of the crossbar.

The celebrations that followed Evan Gumbs' opener (Image: Sean Walsh) It was perhaps not the contribution he would have been expected to make on his 150th appearance for the club, but his stationing in front of the defence freed up Jay Harris and Matty McDonald ahead of him.

Still, there will have been a little bit of concern about how Yellows initially reacted to the mad minute in which they established their advantage, with Hereford certainly adapting well to being a man light.

For the final period of the first half, it would have been a struggle to identify which side had 10 men but having got his side in at half time without sustaining further damage, Carden was able to readjust his side.

They certainly gained better if not complete control of proceedings after the break, although there were arguably more hairy moments in front of their own goal as the Bulls pressed for a leveller.

Indeed, Dan Atherton was forced to make a stunning double save before Josh Amis finally took one of the countless opportunities Town had to finish the game off in the later stages.

Josh Amis slots home the killer goal (Image: Sean Walsh) The skipper’s was not the only vital contribution from the bench – having been summoned to replace the injured Ollie Southern early on, Murphy Bennett handled an extremely tricky customer in Hereford winger Yusifu Ceesay with aplomb while Mikey O’Neill produced a display of real maturity having replaced Jay Harris, who was walking a disciplinary tight rope having been booked.

The younger members of the side will emerge with credit aplenty – Rotherham loanee Hamish Douglas was again imperious in defence, Joe Rodwell-Grant tireless up front while Woods and Matty McDonald were their usual influential selves.

So it is three points gained from their home double header – perhaps not in the order in which many would have expected, but every one they can get is precious.

Now, the hope will be that this result kicks them on into a sustained period of good form.

Warrington Town: Atherton, White, Gumbs, Harris (O’Neill), Woods, McDonald, Rodwell-Grant (Amis), Dixon, Douglas, Southern (Bennett), Clarke. Subs not used: Amaral, Miles

Matty McDonald drives through midfield (Image: Sean Walsh) Mikey O'Neill releases the ball under pressure (Image: Sean Walsh)