By Garry Clarke Pictures John Hopkins
TEN man Warrington Rylands held on for a goalless draw at Trafford despite playing for over an hour a man down.
Referee Lee Hible reduced the Blues ranks just before the half-hour mark brandishing a red card in Ste Milne’s direction after the Rylands striker caught Trafford’s Aiden Roxborough with a late tackle.
With play stretched from the off both teams enjoyed an equal share of the ball in the opening exchanges of open encounter which was generally played in good spirit although the home side looked the more dangerous.
Roxborough, Nike Burke and Alfie Belcher all had shots that only just missed the Rylands goal, while goalkeeper Graeme McCall produced several good saves, at the other end Callum Dolan curled a shot over the Trafford bar from outside the area and George Hassell fired a shot straight at the keeper.
The sending-off changed the complexion of the game, although it took until the second half for Trafford to take advantage of having an extra man.
The ball was almost a permanent resident of the Rylands half after the break as visits into the Trafford half were rare and brief, Dolan drew a save from Trafford keeper Dermott Mee just before the hour mark but for most of the second half Rylands were working hard to keep their hosts at bay.
For all their domination Trafford were restricted to mainly hooting from distance having several attempts which flew wide or over the target. Crosses into the box were dealt with by the head of a blue-shirted defender or the safe hands of McCall, who also made several good saves including a spectacular effort to keep out a Burke volley in the 50th minute.
RYLANDS – McCall, Lees. Wall (Tinning) Smith Egerton Earl Doyle. Hassall, (Denman) Milne. Dolan (Hughes) Robinson Subs not used Molyenux . Buxton
TRAFFORD – Mee. Roxborough, Sloan, Mulholland, Rooney, Neild, Palma, Lopes (Barlow), Burke, Hughes (Miller) , Belcher (Morgan). Sub not used Davidson
Attendance 472
The thoughts of Dave McNabb after our 0-0 draw against Trafford FC pic.twitter.com/nNfkwnhFnW
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) September 18, 2021