BOTH of our highest-ranked football teams are back in action tonight with lengthy midweek away trips.
And their respective form could not contrast more – while Warrington Town continue to struggle in the National League North, Warrington Rylands are flying one tier down in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
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Here is our look ahead to both of tonight’s matches…
Warrington Town boss taking encouragement
Yellows travel to Leamington this evening knowing a victory could lift them out of the relegation places – they currently sit second-from-bottom, three points from safety.
However, an extension of current run of one win from 17 matches could see them finish the evening bottom of the pile with relegation rivals Radcliffe, Marine and Rushall Olympic also in action tonight, the latter two against each other.
Town are yet to win a game in 2025 but while they have lost their last two matches – at home to Scunthorpe United on Saturday and away at fellow strugglers Needham Market on February 1 – manager Paul Carden believes encouragement can be found in the way his side have performed in both games.
“People are probably sick of listening to me, but we have to keep doing what we’re doing,” he said.
“We’ve lost the last two games and I don’t feel like we’ve deserved to have no points out of them.
“However, that’s what we’ve got and we have to take our medicine. We have to recover and get ready for Leamington.
“I was proud of them at the weekend – we had a game plan and worked it will but were on the wrong side of those fine margins.
“In the games we’ve got left, if we apply ourselves like that we will win more than we lose.”
Yellows are likely to be without defenders Peter Clarke, Evan Gumbs and Andy White through injury, while skipper Josh Amis will be assessed after missing out against Scunthorpe.
Town drew 1-1 with tonight's opponents Leamington at the Cal.Delivery Stadium back in September (Image: Sean Walsh)
Can Warrington Rylands continue unlikely play-off push?
By contrast, Rylands make their long trip to Gainsborough Trinity tonight buoyed by their superb recent form.
They top the NPL Premier Division form table for the past eight matches having won six of them, with the latest being Saturday’s 3-1 victory at Stockton Town.
Going further back, they have lost just one of their past 17 league matches and that run has taken them from battling to avoid relegation to contending for a play-off spot.
They could close to within three points of the top five with a victory in Lincolnshire tonight, but manager Neil Reynolds has stressed the importance of keeping feet firmly on the ground.
He also believes their excellent form has put a target on their backs – something else he wants his players to be wary of.
Saturday's 3-1 win at Stockton Town moved Rylands closer to a play-off spot (Image: Mark Percy) “The results are really pleasing at the minute. We’re on a really good run, but every game is tough,” he said.
“Now, we’re going to get a marker on us – we’re doing quite well and it means teams will raise their game against us.
“We’ve said to the lads that we just need to keep our feet on the ground.
“We’ve been here before – you get on a good run and people want to stop you – but we’ve got to keep doing what we’re doing.
“The travelling fans are putting the hours in and I’ve no doubt they’ll do so again at Gainsborough. If we’re putting smiles on people’s faces, that’s all we want to do.”
Both matches kick off at 7.45pm.
