WARRINGTON Town's struggles continued on Saturday afternoon as they succumbed to National League North leaders Kidderminster Harriers.

The game was goalless at half time after Yellows had seen a glorious chance to open the scoring go begging inside the first minute, with Josh Amis' header forcing a superb save from home stopper Christian Dibble.

However, once Reiss McNally headed the Harriers in front from a free kick shortly after half time, their resistance was broken and the hosts added a second on the hour mark through Maz Kouhyar, who provided the set-piece assist for the opener.

Barely anything came back from Yellows, who finished with 10 men after Matty McDonald was dismissed for two quickfire yellow cards and will now miss next week's crucial clash with relegation rivals Farsley Celtic.

The cushion between Town and the relegation places has now reduced to two points, with Paul Carden's men having played more games than all of the sides around them.

Kidderminster 'the best I've seen this season,' says Carden

Carden believes Kidderminster’s superior quality and fitness eventually accounted for his side, believing they had been beaten by a team who are likely to win the National League North title.

However, he said he “couldn’t fault” his players’ efforts, particularly in a gruelling final 10 minutes following McDonald’s sending-off.

“I thought we had a good start to the game with a couple of chances – the keeper makes a good save from Josh in the first few minutes,” he said.

“We started on the front foot and were positive and well in the game, but they grew into the game.

“They’re a good team – I haven’t seen every team yet but they’re the best I’ve seen up to now.

“They’ve got good balance about them and it will take something out of the ordinary for them not to win it.

“We made a fist of it but the first goal kills you. To concede from a set-piece on the back post is frustrating – if they’re a better footballing team than you, so be it – but then they grew in confidence.

“The lads kept going with 10 men for the last 10 minutes – I couldn’t fault work rate, effort or attitude.

“Our season isn’t going to be defined here – it’s going to be defined by what we do against teams in and around us.

“That’s not to say we don’t come here not trying to win and do the right things, but sometimes you play a good side and they deserved to win.”

McDonald’s two yellow cards came within barely a minute of each other, with the first being for dissent before the second for a mistimed challenge.

And Carden expressed his frustration with the midfielder, who will now be suspended for a crucial clash with Farsley Celtic next week.

“I was disappointed with Matty getting the second yellow – that hurts us,” he said.

“We’re low on numbers anyway and then you lose someone for ill-discipline, which isn’t good enough.

“I get frustration and being annoyed at how the game is going, but you’ve got to be disciplined and stay on the pitch.

“Next week now, he’s suspended and that’s hurt.”

Verdict - Harriers simply too good for beleagured Town

By Matt Turner

THESE are not the games upon which Warrington Town’s season will be ultimately judged.

On a desperate run of one win from 13 games and visiting a side flying high at the top of the National League North, what were we really to expect?

Nine times out of 10, this would be a home banker and while Town’s victory over Kidderminster Harriers in August was an impressive exception, this one went very much to form.

It is not as though the visitors simply rolled over and excepted their fate, however, for there were moments – albeit scarce ones – of joy.

That was particularly the case in the opening minutes, when Paul Carden’s men started on the front foot and were unlucky not to take the lead when Josh Amis’ goal-bound header was very well saved by home keeper Christian Dibble inside the opening 60 seconds.

Unfortunately, though, that was pretty much the limit of how much Dibble had to do as once the impressive home side took control, it appeared to be only a matter of time until they broke through.

Wing-backs Joe Foulkes and Reece Devine caused chaos given the space by Town’s narrow set-up, with the side led by former Premier League manager Phil Brown intricately giving their visitors a working-over.

Either side of experienced focal point Amari Morgan-Smith operated two cultured inverted wide men in Ashley Hemmings and Maz Kouhyar but in fairness, Yellows were relatively untroubled in the opening half despite ceding much of the ball save for a poor miss from Ryley Reynolds on the stroke of the interval.

After the break, though, Kiddy went up a gear and simply had too much for Carden’s beleaguered charges.

Given how firm they had stood beforehand, the way in which Reiss McNally was allowed to head home from a set-piece to break their resistance will sting but from that point on, the writing was on the wall.

Town’s well-documented struggles in front of goal meant it was always going to be a long way back, with Kouhyar adding a coup de grace with still half an hour to go.

From that point, the biggest thing Town could take away was that they did not let the scoreline run away from them – bodies continued to be put on the line and work rate could not be questioned. Above all else, they were simply beaten by a far greater side.

This was a thankless task and given the crucial away trips to relegation rivals Farsley Celtic and Needham Market coming up in the next fortnight, Matty McDonald’s loss of discipline to be shown a second yellow card was inexplicable.

Not for the first time, he talked his way into a yellow card so when he had too much of a nibble at his man barely a minute later, he was asking for trouble.

With numbers already low, they will now not be able to call upon McDonald for the trip to Farsley next weekend – the first of two games they simply cannot afford to lose.

Warrington Town: Atherton, Douglas, Harris, Amis, McDonald, Rodwell-Grant (Morris), Bennett, Amaral, Dixon (Maieco), Hont, Clarke. Subs not used: O’Neill, Southern