by Garry Clarke
RYLANDS FC eased into the second round of the Macron NWCFL Challenge Cup defeating Barnton 5-0 under the floodlights at a damp Gorsey Lane on Friday night.
Their First Division South visitors were on the back foot from the kick off as Rylands dominated and had several goal scoring chances in the opening minutes and a penalty appeal turned down before taking the lead in the 22nd minute.
A sweeping move from Rylands saw the ball played into the penalty area where George Lomax’s shot takes a deflection on its way into the net. A couple of minutes later Freddie Potter almost doubled the lead but Barnton goalkeeper Arran Lyons pulled off a good save.
Lyons was unable to prevent Potter from getting on the scoresheet in the 28th minute stabbing the ball home as it bobbled around the area as Barnton struggled to clear from a corner.
Approaching half time Barnton’s Louis Meyers curled a shot wide of Rylands goal before Kane Drummond made it 3-0 in the 44th minute. Receiving the ball on the edge of the area. Drummond cut inside unleashing a powerful shot which gave Lyons no chance.
Five minutes into the second half Callum Lees scored the Blues fourth goal netting from close range after Lyons missed a ball played over the top of the defence. The scoring was completed in the 68th minutw when after an interchange of passing between Tom Freeman and Drummond, Freeman played in Drummond who slotted it under the keeper.
In the closing minutes Rylands keeper Mike Emery tipped a Sam Houghton free kick over the bar.
After the game manager Dave McNabb tweeted “Very good performance tonight against a good and spirited Barnton side played some great stuff, particularly first half and even more pleasing another clean sheet”.
Rylands team v Barnton – Emery, Lownsborough, Freeman, Lees, Denman, Jones, Gerrard, Wolhuter, Potter, Lomax, Drummond. Subs Plant, Parry, Kenny, Scarisbrick, McNamara.
In the second round Rylands will host Premier Division rivals Padiham at Gorsey Lane on 9th November, and they visit Padiham next Saturday for a league fixture.
It was a week of celebration for Rylands midfielder Warren Gerraard who was named the Macron Premier Division Player of the Month for September. Announcing the award on their website, the NWCFL commented “Warren has played in all four of Rylands September fixtures and having been selected as their man of the match on three out of four occasions, it certainly has been a productive month for the midfielder”,
