Rylands hang on for win at City of Liverpool

by Garry Clarke Pictures: Mark Percy

BY GARRY CLARKE

SOMETIMES you win games by playing free-flowing passing football, while other times you have to dig in and grind out a result- Warrington Rylands employed both methods in bringing home the three points from Ellesmere Port.

The first 45 minutes saw them cut their hosts to ribbons with their silky passing skills as they opened up a two goal lead, however in the proverbial game of two halves after the break they were forced into a backs to the wall rearguard action as their hosts dominated a scrappy first half.

In a game that was stretched from the kick-off Rylands enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges with Dave Webb drawing a save from City keeper Oliver Martin with a firm shot from a well worked corner routine. Martin also reacted quickly to cut out a dangerous low cross as Kane Drummond was about to pounce.

In the 17th minute Dean Furman found Rick Smith at the far post with floated a free-kick, Smith’s header back across goal was cleared for a corner. The resulting corner found Smith at the far post, this time there was no stopping his powerful header as he put his side in front.

Two minutes later Webb increased Rylands advantage sending Martin the wrong way from the penalty spot after former Rylands player Abdul Djalo tripped Johnny Hunt inches inside the box.

The home side tried to get back into the game twice heading over the bar from corners, but Rylands ended the half in the ascendancy and could have added more to their tally, especially in the closing minutes of the half when Drummond broke clear slotted the ball past Martin only for it to hit the post.

City of Liverpool responded to their manager’s halftime words of wisdom and prevented Rylands from getting into their rhythm and started to gain the upper hand.

Rylands goalkeeper Graeme McCall was repeatedly called into action making several fine saves as he and his blue-shirted colleagues thwarted wave after wave of purple-shirted raids.

Rylands were forced into hitting on the counter-attack, with Martin saving from Andy Scarisbrick in the 75th minute a couple of minutes after a Webb free-kick flew just wide.

After having a penalty shout turned down on the hour mark, City were awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute. Running onto a through ball James Steele tried to chip the advancing

McCall, the Rylands custodian blocked the shot but Steele continued his run colliding with the keeper. See the City man hit the deck referee Daniel Bruce pointed to the spot. Jack Hazelhurst fired his spot-kick just out of the reach of McCall to set up a grandstand finish.

Rylands managed to hold on to claim the victory which maintains their three point lead at the top of the NPL West table, although Marine in second have two games in hand. The other three teams in the top five all drew 0-0.

CITY OF LIVERPOOL: Martin Corrigan Walls Lycett Isherwood Rule Edgar Djalo (Hinnigan) Quarless Hazlehurst (Murphy) Steele; Subs not used: Bahula Chakwana Monaghan

WARRINGTON RYLANDS: McCall Walker Hunt Neild Smith Buxton Doyle Furman (Egerton) Webb Scarisbrick (Baakkor) Drummond (Lacey); Subs not used Appleyard Tinning

GOALS City Hazelhurst 83p Rylands Smith 18, Webb 20p

Referee D Bruce Attendance 247

Kane Drummond makes no mistake – Picture Mark Percy

Keeper “Podge” just fails to save penalty – Picture Mark Percy

Two minutes later, Johnny Hunt is fouled in the box and David Webb steps up calmly and doubles our lead! pic.twitter.com/HAqkWJejPp

— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) March 12, 2022

Rylands hang on for win

Kane Drummond goes through on goal and beats the keeper but is denied by the woodwork. Still 2-0 pic.twitter.com/EBnyY5rnDZ

— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) March 12, 2022

Penalty to COL. Podge makes a great effort and gets a hand to it but it goes in. 2-1 Rylands. pic.twitter.com/0zznXeq8j0

— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) March 12, 2022