By Garry Clarke
ANDY Scarisbrick was Warrington Rylands 1906’s hero as they won their Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round tie away at Whitby Town after a penalty shoot out.
Playing behind closed doors due to coronanvirus restrictions in the northeast, Rylands started strongly against their hosts who ply their trade two divisions higher up the non-league ladder than the Gorsey Lane club.
The “Blues” playing in their all-red change strip were awarded a penalty in the 5th minute when Ste Milne was chopped down. Milne’s spot-kick was saved and although the rebound was bundled into the Whitby net their goal was ruled out for offside.
Rylands continued to dominate the first half going close to scoring on several occasions while repelling anything Whitby could throw at them.
Scarisbrick broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half; swooping on a loose ball in the Whitby penalty area he slotted the ball past the keeper from six yards.
Rylands continued to enjoy the better of the game creating several goal-scoring opportunities without finding a way past the home defence.
The home side was getting desperate launching long balls towards to visitor’s goal in desperate search of an equaliser but Rylands held firm until stoppage time when James Martin headed home for the hosts from close range to send the game to penalties.
With both sides missing their first spot kicks and Graeme McCall saving a Whitby kick, Mike Simpson, Warren Gerrard and Freddie Potter converted theirs leaving Scarisbrick to seal victory and a place in the second qualifying round for the first time in the club’s history.
A few pictures from the first half.
Here's the penalty that was saved and the rebound goal that was then ruled offside.
We are still very much in this game.#WeAreWarringtonRylands ⚽🔵 pic.twitter.com/1QHRJDzhf2
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) September 22, 2020
