BY GARRY CLARKE
WITH the FA announcing all results will be expunged with no promotion and relegation taking place for levels below National League, Rylands finished the aborted season second in the table in what would have been a promotion spot, but now face another year in the NWCFL.
Warrington Worldwide takes a look back at Rylands FC’s s first season in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.
Having won the First Division South title at their first attempt last season, Rylands made their Premier Division debut on Saturday 3rd August when they welcomed Charnock Richard to Gorsey Lane. Rylands kicked off the season with a 3-2 win before recording a 3-0 midweek away win at Litherland REMYCA. The club’s first venture into the FA Cup ended in the extra preliminary round when they lost 0-2 away at Runcorn Town. Returning to league action Avro were defeated 5-0 at home before the first points of the season were dropped in a 0-0 draw at Burscough. Ashton Athletic were defeated 3-2 at home on Bank Holiday Monday before Rylands ended August by playing the first FA Vase game since 1990, Athersley Recreation were knocked out of the first qualifying round 6-0.
September stated with a 2-0 win away at Winsford United before Rossington Main were knocked out of the FA Vase 4-2 at home and Congleton Town were defeated 4-2 at home. September ended with the first league defeat of the season with the Blues going down 1-2 at Hanley Town.
October opened with a run of three league defeats losing 1-4 at Longridge Town and suffering home defeats against Bootle (2-3) and Northwich Victoria (1-2). Form returned in the two remaining games played in October as Bootle were beaten 3-0 in the FA Vase and Barnton 5-0 in the NWCFL Cup, both games played at Gorsey Lane.
Two cup defeats opened November with exits being made from the FA Vase, losing 1-0 at home to Grimsby Borough, and the Liverpool Senior Cup losing 1-3 away at Bootle. These defeats were followed by three league wins, two away from home at Ashton Athletic, 3-1, and at Squires Gate, 3-0, before the month ended with a 2-1 home win against Whitchurch Alport.
December opened with a League Cup tie against holders 1874 Northwich at Gorsey Lane. After a dramatic 1-1 draw the visitors won 3-2 on penalties. In the run up to Christmas away win were recorded at Padiham, 3-1, and Avro 1-0. A Boxing Day home 1-1 draw with Runcorn Town was followed by a 1-2 defeat away at 1874 Northwich.
2020 started with a shock 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Barnoldswick Town, which was followed by a 2-1 win at Irlam and a 1-3 defeat at Charnock Richard. A 5-1 home win against Padiham set Rylands on an unbeaten run, which lasted until the early end of the season. A 2-0 win at Northwich Victoria and a 1-0 win at home against Irlam completed January.
A successful February saw Rylands named as the Premier Division team of the month having won at Skelmersdale United, 3-2, and Bootle 3-0, beaten Skelmersdale United 3-0 at home and drawn 1-1 at home with Litherland REMYCA.
Rylands last game on the season was on Saturday 7th March when they won 2-0 at Whitchurch Alport, a win which meant Rylands ended the campaign second in the table eight points behind the leaders 1874 Northwich.
