WARRINGTON Town travel to South Shields on Tuesday night looking to emulate their play-off final victory in 2019.
The Yellows are still the Northern Premier League play-off champions, with the two seasons since both curtailed due to COVID.
Unfortunately, the Yellows were denied their rightful promotion in 2018/19 by a quirk to the FA rules for one season only, that required them to play in a super play-off.
That super play-off ended in an extra time defeat at home to King’s Lynn Town, who have since gone on to earn promotion to the National League, just one step away from the Football League.
It leaves a particular ‘what if’ taste in the mouths of those who follow or support the Yellows and the reality of just where football in the town could be.
But after securing a play-off spot for the third completed season running, the Yellows must once again win away at South Shields to stand a chance of promotion.
South Shields were strong favourites to go up this year, and are managed by former England striker Kevin Phillips.
To have missed out on the league title was perhaps a surprise, and they will undoubtedly be favourites for promotion via the play-offs, which also includes Matlock Town and Scarborough Athletic.
The pressure will very much be on the hosts at the 1st Cloud Arena on Tuesday night, and Warrington Town will be ready to pounce.
A large crowd is expected, with South Shields having averaged more than 2,100 in the league this season.
Yellows boss Mark Beesley said: “It’s going to be a big crowd but we’ve got plenty of players who have played in front of big crowds in play-off games.
“They will enjoy that experience. We’ve got to hope we get a strong referee who doesn’t get overawed with the big crowd, because that can happen.
“It’s important that we look after ourselves and look forward to the game because at the end of the day, you’re in football to play in big games like this.”
If Warrington win at South Shields on Tuesday, they will travel to either Matlock or Scarborough for the final on Monday May 2.
They lost both league meetings with Shields this season, going down 3-2 in the away fixture back in September.
Jordan Buckley and Dom Reid scored the goals after the Yellows had trailed 3-0 and threatened an unlikely comeback.
The game at Cantilever Park back in January was Phillips’ first game in charge, and two early goals helped Shields to win 2-1, though the Yellows were aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty.
Prior to this season, the Yellows had been unbeaten against South Shields and have won twice at their home ground in previous seasons.
Josh Amis scored a late winner to seal the NPL play-off final 2-1 back in May 2019, and earlier in that same season, Amis and Jack Dunn scored the goals in a 2-1 victory.
Talk will inevitably centre around that play-off final win though, which is arguably the club’s finest hour, other than the FA Cup victory over Exeter City.
There are still five players left in the Yellows squad from that final victory – skipper Mark Roberts, match-winner Amis, Bohan Dixon, Jack Mackreth and Mitch Duggan, while current assistant manager Dave Raven also played.
Beesley added: “The experience of it will help as we’ve been up there in a play-off game and came out on the right side of it.
“We can draw from that experience. We’ve got half a different squad to that day but its important that the lads who were there to use that experience and take it into the game.
“At the end of the day, we’ve got to play the game rather than the occasion.
“We’ve got to match them at what they’re good at because they’re a good team. We’ve got to be at the top of our game.”
Before Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Matlock Town, Warrington’s recent away form had been good – with four straight wins on the road without conceding a goal.
However, their record against the top four this season has been poor – with just two points won from 24, both against eventual champions Buxton.
As has been the case in recent weeks, Beesley will have a full squad to pick from – with 19 players in contention to make his match day 16.
Bohan Dixon made his 100th league appearance for the club in the defeat at Matlock Town, while Luke Duffy played for the 50th time.
Travelling fans are advised to buy their tickets online from South Shields and enter the ground via turnstile gates 3 and 4.
