Matt Turner takes a look at what is set to be a testing period for Warrington Town...

IT’S the most wonderful time of the year.

A time for family, gift-giving and from a sporting perspective, wall-to-wall football.

We may be a couple of weeks away from the Christmas fixtures, but they are starting to loom large on the horizon.

This is the time of year where real momentum can be gathered. Such is the tight nature of the BetVictor Northern Premier Division, the rewards could be spectacular for any side that can do that.

How great would that be if it was Warrington Town? What if they could be the ones to stride out of the pack and say “come on, see if you can hold onto us.”

Last season, their form from late November through to January was excellent – an eight-match unbeaten run that cemented their status as challengers.

This time around, things look like they might be clicking into place at just the right time.

They have had their issues this season, particularly at home, but in the past few weeks they seem to have got to grips with the issues that have been bugging them.

They needed to be more clinical and they have been – their first two chances against Nantwich resulted in goals while their eventual dismantling of Hyde United was ruthless in nature.

In the fixtures to come, they will need that more than ever.

Saturday brings three little words that make any Yellows fan feel all warm inside – South Shields away.

Memories of trips to Mariners Park last season will live forever. Not only were they the only visiting team to win there, but they did it twice.

With Shields having switched to a hybrid training model – a bridge between part-time and professional football – things will be tougher this year, but Town will go to Tyneside with that inherent belief that they have what it takes to win there.

Following that, Basford United make the trip to Cantilever Park. The Nottingham side started promisingly last season before fading away, but they look more equipped for a sustained promotion push this time round.

Throw the long trip to Morpeth and the Boxing Day derby with Witton Albion into the mix, and it makes for one tough December.

The target for Town has to be to emerge from these next two games unbeaten.

Two points would surely not be sniffed at, four would be fantastic and six would be truly superb.

This Yellows side are certainly capable. Let’s see how it unfolds…