by Garry Clarke
WITH two home wins last week and results elsewhere, Rylands moved up to fourth place in the NWCFL Premier Division table narrowing the gap between themselves and the third promotion place on offer to just two points.
Rylands overcame their nearest geographical rivals Irlam 1-0 on Tuesday in a game which, despite both teams having chances, seemed destined to end goalless, until Warren Gerrard struck, what manager Dave McNabb described as a great goal, with only four minutes remaining on the clock
A throw in taken by Joe Denman was headed out by an Irlam defender, the ball dropped to Gerrard who thirty yards from goal skilfully turned his defender and shifted the ball to his right foot, letting fly with a shot go that sailed over the Irlam goalkeeper dipping into the top corner of the net.
On Saturday Rylands welcomed Squires Gate to Gorsey Lane and picked up all three points with Lewis Buckley, returning after four weeks out injured, scoring the winning goal in the 88th minute. Kane Drummond played in Buckley who dinked a lovely ball over the onrushing Squires Gate goalkeeper to clinch the win after it looked like they would have to settle for a single point after their visitors had drawn level in the 75th minute.
Rylands had taken the lead in the 39th minute when leading scorer Freddie Potter got his head to a corner looping the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the empty net. Squires Gate equalised when a speculative Dean Ing shot was parried away by Rylands keeper Mike Emery, the resulting rebound was stabbed home by Nana Ardakwa to even the scores.
After Saturday’s game manager Dave McNabb said “It was very windy so the conditions were difficult but I thought we played really well, we pulled together, the lads have been brilliant with that the last few weeks and I think overall we’ve deserved to win the game, albeit right at the end again.”
“Results elsewhere don’t really matter; the only thing we can control is our own results and our own form. Anyone can beat anyone in this league, the gap between the top teams and the teams down in the bottom half just isn’t that great that’s why it’s such a good league to be in but ultimately, the only result we care about is ours and we’re stoked to have got the win. “
Rylands are on the road this week, visiting Skelmersdale United on Tuesday before travelling to second placed Bootle for a top of the table clash on Saturday.
