BY GARRY CLARKE
A WEEK after their Rugby League neighbours lifted the Challenge Cup at the national stadium Rylands FC set out on their own road to Wembley hosting Athersley Recreation in the Buildbase FA Vase.
The first qualifying round tie at Gorsey Lane against opponents from the Northern Counties East League will kick off at 3pm.
It will be Rylands first game in the nationwide competition for 29 years, their last FA Vase tie being a 2-0 defeat at Knypersley Victoria in the 1990/91 extra preliminary round.
Rylands go into Saturday’s game having retained top spot in the NWCFL Premier Division with a 2-1 home win against Ashton Athletic while Athersley are still rooted to the foot of the NCEL Premier Division table without a point to their name from four games.
After Monday’s win manager Dave McNabb tweeted “Absolutely brilliant win for the lads today, they worked hard for each other. Could have been out of sight in the first 20 but for missed chances. Fair play to Ashton though, much better team 2nd half. They really are a quality side.”
Rylands got off to a flying start on Monday taking the lead in the opening minute when top scorer George Lomax netted from close range at the second attempt after a goalmouth scramble from a corner.
Rylands continued to dominate the first half, the opening 25 minutes of which seemed to be played exclusively in and around the Ashton area. For all their attacking play and chances created Rylands were unable to add a second goal.
The flow of the game, played in sweltering conditions, changed after a drinks break mid way through the first half. On the resumption of play the visitors took control putting the Blues under a huge amount of pressure, with four chances coming inside 10 minutes, including a shout for a penalty when goalkeeper Graeme McCall saved well at Josh Nicholson’s feet before the Ashton attacker was cautioned for diving.
The second half started with play switching from end to end with both teams trading goal scoring opportunities. Rylands were reduced to 10 men on the hour mark as Warren Gerrard was dispatched to the sidelines for a 10 minute spell in the sin bin.
The visitors reasserted control on the game and continued to push forward, applying pressure to the Rylands back line, but the defence stood firm and restricted the Yellows mostly to efforts from distance.
Against the run of play Rylands scored a second goal in the 80th minute, Tom Freeman Kori-Butler scored from the penalty spot.
Rylands: 1. Graeme McCall, 2. Alex Davies (14. Carl Lownsbrough ’81), 3. Tom Freeman, 4. Adam Jones, 5. John Shaw, 6. Callum Lees, 7. Warren Gerrard, 8. Ste Wolhuter, 9. Freddie Potter (17. Jay White ’69), 10. George Lomax (16. Andy Scarisbrick ’65), 11. Tom McNamara
