WARRINGTON Town had to settle for a point against Farsley Celtic as the two struggling sides battled out a stalemate.

Although the Yellows looked the more likely scorers in the second half, debutant Lee Williams’ hooked shot coming off the post was the closest they got to a much-needed victory.

The game was played in surreal surroundings at Buxton’s Silverlands ground, in front of a small crowd that was mainly made up of travelling Yellows fans, with Farsley playing miles from home and their fans boycotting in protest.

The strange atmosphere no doubt contributed to a dour first half in which either side offered little, the only real chance falling to Elliot Morris, his header from a Williams cross pushed wide of the post by Kieran Flavell.

Flavell was otherwise sweeping up plenty behind the Farsley back line.

The Yellows made two changes at half time, withdrawing debutant Danny Vost and Dana Amaral, and the introduction of Bohan Dixon and Mikey O’Neill gave them greater control of the second 45.

Within four minutes of the restart, O’Neill curled a shot wide, while at the other end Manase Mampala forced a save out of Dan Atherton.

O’Neill forced a save out of Flavell before Williams diverted Hont’s cross goalwards and the ball came back off the face of the post.

A couple of fouls on the edge of the box halted the Yellows’ progress in good positions, and they were nearly caught out at the other end on a rare Farsley counter when Hamish Douglas got back to keep out Justin Iwobi’s poke past Atherton.

It was the Yellows who pushed for a winner late on but they couldn’t carve out a clear cut opportunity, with Josh Amis not getting any contact on to Hont’s late cross.

The Yellows are on the road again next Saturday at fellow strugglers Needham Market.

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

Hamish Douglas sees a late chance blocked (Image: Sean Walsh)

Carden hails 'outstanding' debutant Williams

After the game, Carden said he felt his side's second-half display following a "lacklustre" opening period merited more than the point they had to settle for.

He also praised the display on debut of forward Williams, who joined from Stockport County on Friday.

"I thought he was outstanding for an 18-year-old lad – strength, pace, ability, he had everything in abundance," the Town boss said.

"On a debut like that, I thought he was very good.

"He was a constant threat – he was probably our only one in the first half and when he got the ball, he made things happen.

"He was bright and positive, and we’re looking forward to having him with us because I think he’ll only get better.

On-loan Stockport forward Lee Williams enjoyed a promising debut (Image: Sean Walsh) "We did everything bar get the goal I thought we deserved from our second-half display.

"In the first half, I felt we were lacklustre – it was a strange game and atmosphere and the situation with Farsley lends itself to being that way with not many, if any, home fans.

"I felt we wasted the opportunity to get hold of the game, but we made subs at half time and really took it to them.

"We’ve hit the bar, the keeper has made a couple of good saves and they’ve had a block from Hamish Douglas’ effort two or three yards off the line.

"In terms of attacking intent, we had plenty of it in the second half but never found that last little bit."

Watch Carden's full post-match reaction below