The Lions narrowly lost last time out. They return to home comforts this weekend, with Warrington Town visiting Nethermoor for just the second time in recent years, writes Scott Kelly.

Match sponsored by: Black Solicitors

“We were too passive (in the) first half. The goal was preventable, I was disappointed”.

The Lions lost 1-0 at Ilkeston Town last Saturday. Boss Ian Richards was critical of the sides first half performance. He admitted there was a plan in place, but it simply was not executed to his liking.

“Second half there was more intensity and more urgency but (we were) lacking the quality. We did not do enough to win that game”

With Ilkeston taking the lead in the first half, Richards felt the side did not do enough to kick on and conceded that his side didn’t deserve anything from the game. “There wasn’t enough fight as a group” Richards added.

“We are setting up to win games. We are either not converting chances we create or not creating enough chances. We scored one in four and it is something that we got to sort”

Despite missing top scorer Jordan Thewlis, Richards’ philosophy is still to attack and score goals and clearly feels that the lack of chances being converted in the final third needs to be nipped in the bud.

Team News

The last two games the side have been without Jordan Thewlis, with Richards admitting he hopes he will be fit for the visit of Warrington.

Richards admitted Will Longbottom needs an operation on a long-standing issue so he will be missing once again, likely with George Goodman who Richards feels is closer to a return.

Strong time off the bench for Elliot Owen and Kyle White means they are back to near full fitness and hope to be involved from the start on Saturday.

Amir Berchil played the full 90 minutes last week and received particular praise from Richards. He hopes to keep his place, as does Archie Christie-Crainie.

The Opposition

Saturday’s visitors were relegated from the National League North last season and looked for much of the season that they would struggle once again.

However, victory over the Lions back in October sparked a run of just two defeats in 16. One of those defeats was a humiliating 8-0 defeat at Hebburn Town in November. They had lost just once since then though up to a 2-1 victory over Prescot Cables on January 24th. The side have not won since and have collected only one point from a possible 12 available. That point gained was the 1-1 draw with Stocksbridge last weekend and as such, the Yellows sit only on the periphery of the play off places, and this mini run of four games without victory now sees them sit eight points off Stockton Town in 5th.

Experienced goalkeeper Jamie Jones has left the club for a full-time opportunity five leagues up the football pyramid. Jones has signed for Southampton until the end of the season to provide some cover due to Alex McCarthy’s recent injury. He had only joined the club a month ago, but thankfully for the Yellows, regular number one Liam Isherwood is back and available for them.

Warrington’s goalscorers in the reverse fixture, Reece Daly and Liam Brazier, will both be unavailable. Brazier has returned to Port Vale following a loan spell, and Daly will sit out the game once again, following the leagues rules on concussion protocols. Former Lion Kallan Murphy will also be missing through suspension following a recent red card, and Troy Bourne will sit out to serve the final game of his suspension after picking up 10 yellow cards.

Former Bolton midfielder Josh Vela operates in their midfield, along with veteran Jay Harris and loanee Joe Rodwell-Grant, with the latter recently having his loan extended with the club from Curzon Ashton.

Daly has eight goals and is the club’s top goalscorer, with forward Max Thompson next in line having bagged six this campaign.

The Yellows are managed by Paul Carden and have been since September 2024. Carden returned to the club following a previous managerial spell at the club from 2016-2021.

Image courtesy of Pyramid Pix

Previous Meetings

Warrington got the better of the Lions in the reverse fixture back in October. That 2-0 defeat was the sides first meeting since February 2023, which was a 0-0 draw.

The 22/23 season was the first season in which the sides met, with the first and only previous meeting at Nethermoor being the first ever meeting between the sides, a 3-1 defeat in November 2022.

The sides also met in the FA Trophy just 14 days after that fixture, with the Lions securing a late 1-0 victory to advance.

Listen Live

As always our commentary team will be at Nethermoor. Live audio commentary can be found via the Mixlr app or on guiseleyradio.mixlr.com at approximately 2:50pm on Saturday.

Tickets

Tickets will be available to purchase from our turnstiles on Saturday priced at:

• Adults: £13
• Concessions (Over 66s/Students/Registered Disabled): £9
• 11-18 Year-Olds: £5
• Accompanied Under-11s: £1

Payment can be made via cash at all our turnstiles and card at turnstiles 1, 2 & 6. ‘The Lions’ magazine will be on sale for £3 from sellers near each turnstile and our Club Shop.

It is cash payments only inside the ground for magazines and 50/50 cash draw tickets. Food and drink from The Lions’ Diner can be paid for by cash or card and the clubhouse accepts and prefers payment by card.