by Garry Clarke
WARRINGTON Rylands are 90 minutes from being crowned NPL West champions, as a victory over Bootle at Gorsey Lane would see them finish top of the table at the first attempt and gain promotion to the NPL Premier Division.
With second-placed Workington, only a point behind, playing bottom of the table Market Drayton Town on Saturday it looks like nothing less than a win will be enough for the Blues, although it won’t be easy against Bootle who were promoted from the NWCFL alongside Rylands last summer.
After a run of five straight defeats Bootle returned to winning ways on Good Friday winning 2-1 at Trafford, Jack McGowan and Matty McDonald on target in a scrappy game. They backed that up with a 2-0 win at home on Easter Monday against Marine, Tom Petersen and McGowan with the goals.
Earlier in the season Warrington Rylands visited Bootle on a wet and windy Saturday 4th December and returned home with the three points with a 4-2 win. Joe Bunney gave Rylands a first-minute lead, Ben Hodkinson equalized in the 12th minute before Adam Buxton restored the lead on the half hour. Goals from Kane Drummond and Callum Dolan in the opening minutes of the second half built up an unassailable lead although Morgan Hornson-Smith did net a late consolation for the home side.
The game was watched by 273 spectators, and those who were there that day will be hoping for better weather as it was played in monsoon conditions.
