Rylands promoted as Champions!

by Garry Clarke
WARRINGTON Rylands have been promoted to the Northern Premier League Premier Division as champions after a nail-biting 2-2 draw at home to Bootle.

Needing all three points to guarantee promotion as champions, Rylands had to wait to hear the result from closest challenger Workington, before the celebrations could begin as they also drew 1-1 at Mickleover.

“It’s a bigger achievement than winning at Wembley” said a jubilant Dave McNabb as his Warrington Rylands team clinch the NPL West title.

But last year’s FA Vase winners do not make it easy for themselves.

Going into the last game of the season a point ahead of 2nd placed Workington who were playing bottom of the table Market Drayton Town Rylands expected nothing less than a win would be enough.

Bootle enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges. As the half progressed the home side came more into the game with Dean Furman, Callum Dolan and Kane Drummond all going close with shots before Rylands took the lead mid-way through the first half.

In the 27th minute, Dolan chipped the ball over the Bootle defence into the path of Drummond who rounded the keeper to slot the ball home.

Bootle almost levelled on the stroke of halftime having a header cleared of the line by Johnny Hunt but they did score in the 56th minute when Tom Petersen got on the end of a cross to tap home from close range. Six minutes later they took the lead when Ben Hodkinson drove home an angled shot.

Rylands emerged from a tricky period and equalised in the 71st minute. Bootle failed to clear from a corner, the ball fell to Andy Scarisbrick whose shot took several deflections before nestling in the back of the net.

Rylands continued to push for the winning goal which would secure the title but could not find a way past Bootle goalkeeper Theo Roberts who pulled off a wonder save to tip a Dave Webb volley onto the crossbar.

All square at the final whistle, a nervous wait ensued whilst waiting for the result from Market Drayton.

When news of Workington drawing at Market Drayton came through Gorsey Lane erupted with wild scenes of celebration as Warrington Rylands were crowned NPL West champions.

WARRINGTON RYLANDS: McCall Neild Hunt Smith Egerton Buxton Lacey Furman Dolan Scarisbrick Drummond; SUBS: Walker Tinning Irwin Hughes Webb

BOOTLE: Roberts Roberts Homson-Smith Bell McCarten Cooper McLoughlin Millington Peterson McGowan Hodkinson; SUBS: Holland Jackson McDonald Ogunby

Referee D Bruce Attendance 1247

Goalkeeper “Podge” celebrates after Drummond’s opener

WE ARE CHAMPIONS!!!! pic.twitter.com/lCaTLnRgQz

— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) April 23, 2022

pic.twitter.com/HwcjlAhDfG

— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) April 23, 2022

Absolute scenes as @RylandsFC take it right down to the wire to become Northern Premier League West champions! Great to be at the game with good luck charms @DomBres & @NathanLabour to see history made, yet again- we’re going up lads! 🏆⚽ pic.twitter.com/LOw5Jsj3cW

— Charlotte Nichols (@charlotte2153) April 23, 2022