IT is now three successive defeats either side of the new year for Warrington Town as they slip further towards relegation trouble.

However, while he could have no complaints about their defeats to Southport and Marine beforehand, manager Paul Carden believes his side were unfortunate to emerge from their clash with King’s Lynn Town empty-handed.

Two goals either side of half-time earned the promotion-chasing Norfolk side all three points at the Cal.Delivery Stadium, with Gold Omatoyo striking before the break before Tom Hughes double their advantage barely a minute after the restart.

There was a fightback from Yellows, with skipper Josh Amis heading home to halve the deficit midway through the second half, but the Linnets were able to close out a 2-1 victory.

Josh Amis heads home for Town against King's Lynn (Image: Sean Walsh) Town remain 19th and three points clear of the National League North relegation zone having played more games than all of the teams around them, but Carden believes there was plenty in his side’s performance to be looked upon positively.

“Obviously, you’re disappointed not to get a point but the performance was chalk and cheese from the Christmas fixtures,” he said.

“I thought we were good value for a point against a tough side – they’re full-time and are going for promotion, but the way they used their subs in stoppage time was telling in that they had to see the game out, which they did well to do.

“I couldn’t fault anyone today – the lads have put an unbelievable shift in but there’s been some good stuff played. On another day, you get a point out of it.

“The first goal is probably indicative of where both sides are – on another day, it just gets cleared – but the second goal is an unbelievable finish.

“The lads carried on, they didn’t stop, Josh scores a great goal and it’s game on.

“We’re pushing and pushing, and there’s a penalty all day when Josh misses a header – their lad is all over Peter Clarke. That’s what you don’t get when we are where we are.”

Read Matt Turner's verdict on the game below

ANOTHER game that sums up why Warrington Town are currently so infuriating to watch for managers and supporters alike.

For having Christmas gifts to two sides in and around them in Southport and Marine recently, high-flying King’s Lynn were made to earn everything they took from WA4 on this bitterly cold afternoon.

Those who follow the team may not have been completely surprised by this, given their better results and performances this season have come against the sides fighting at the top end of the National League North.

Indeed, of the teams currently between second and eighth in the table, it is only the Norfolk side who have taken a full complement of points from games against Town.

While their victory in Norfolk on the opening day of the season was richly deserved, however, this game was far less clear cut and Yellows can feel slightly unfortunate not to have taken anything from the game.

That misfortune is encapsulated by the way in which they conceded the opener shortly before half time, when Peter Clarke’s attempted prod to safety instead rebounded off the outstretched foot of Gold Omatoyo and found a helpless Dan Atherton’s bottom corner.

And if that strike made Paul Carden alter what he had to say to his players when he got them in at half-time, Tom Hughes’ sumptuous finish barely a minute after the restart threw whatever he did say completely out of the window.

A sullen silence dropped over the ground – a grim acceptance that, once again, they were about to watch their side lose but while that turned out to be the case, this time it was not down to a lack of trying.

A change of formation to a narrow four-man midfield did the trick, with Bohan Dixon pulling the strings in a deeper role while the more energetic Dana Amaral, Mikey O’Neill and Matty McDonald operated slightly higher.

Amaral, who was making his first league start after some impressive displays in county cup competitions, was certainly making a case to keep his place with a snappy display brimming with intent before he was forced off injured in the second half.

It would be a shame if that were to deny him a run in the side and having also seen Hamish Douglas limp off, Carden will be hoping neither injury is too bad as knocks start to pile up again.

Another who was given a chance to shine was Murphy Bennett, and he too took it – it was his teasing delivery that was headed home by Josh Amis to give Town a sniff of pulling themselves out of the fire.

His defensive work was solid too, highlighted by a superbly-timed and likely goal-saving tackle on Hughes that was inexplicably punished by a yellow card - one of many mystifying decisions made by referee Tom Wilson on the day.

When Amis found the net, Town still had a quarter of the game to salvage something and while their endeavour could not be questioned, they again struggled to team it with the requisite quality.

As they now prepare for four consecutive away fixtures in the league, there is plenty they can take from this game – but none of the points they are desperate for.

Warrington Town: Atherton, Douglas (Southern), Woods, O’Neill, Amis, McDonald (Rodwell-Grant), Bennett (Miles), Amaral (Morris), Dixon, Hont, Clarke. Sub not used: McCourt