WIRE CHIEF IS LIVING BY FERGIE RULE
SIR Alex Ferguson once famously said “attack wins you games but defence wins you titles” – Warrington Town seem to be heeding the great man’s advice.
Before yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Lancaster City, the Wire had far and away the best defensive record in the Northern Premier League, having conceded just 17 times in their opening 25 games, a statistic which had seen them rise to within a point of league leaders Farsley Celtic.
“The resoluteness of our backline this season is something that I am immensely proud of,” manager Paul Carden told The NLP.
“We have worked hard to ensure that we are a really tough unit for teams to break down and for now at least it seems to be bearing fruit.
“I think that’s what makes our record all the more impressive, that the whole back four is completely new this season.
“From a defensive perspective we only kept hold of our goalkeeper from last year, so it is brilliant to see how quickly the lads have organized themselves.”
The NPL title race is shaping up to be an enthralling affair and Carden is relishing the prospect of a tantalising battle at the summit of the table.
“It is a really brilliant thing to be a part of. There is only a point separating the top four and the entire league is full of so much quality this year,” he added.
“If you don’t relish these moments and enjoy coming up against the best sides in high-pressure games then you shouldn’t really be in football. It is rather unusual that at this stage there are lots of teams who you would say could still go on and win the title, so it’s going to be fascinating to see how everything unfolds.”
The Wire have enjoyed a steady progression under Carden, since the former Chester City and Cambridge United midfielder moved into the Cantilever Park hotseat in 2016.
A tenth-place finish in his first campaign was followed up by a run to the play-offs last year, where Warrington’s path to promotion was ultimately ended by Grantham Town. With the club continuing to move in the right direction, Carden is committed for the long haul and is looking forward to a bright future in north Cheshire.
“The chairman here is absolutely fantastic and I am not just saying that to get on his good side,” he continued.
“He really wants the best for this club. I have worked so closely with him that he has become a good friend of mine. There has been interest from other clubs in the past, but I am committed to the project here.
“Everything is moving in the right direction and it is telling that we have had players who were playing at far higher levels that are willing to drop down and play for us because they can see where the club is heading.
“We recruited really well over the summer and have once again built a strong squad that we believe can compete at the very top.
“Can we go one better than last season and achieve promotion? If we play to our potential then we are certainly capable of it.”