By Garry Clarke. Images: John Hopkins
SCORING twice in the second half, Warrington Rylands picked up their first home win of the season beating Ashton United 2-0.
The first half saw plenty of huff and puff from both sides but little quality or goalmouth action.
Rylands goalkeeper Luke Pilling pulled off a double save to deny Ashton in the 23rd minute and his opposite number Luke Simpson did well to punch a dangerous cross clear two minutes later.
Matty Regan had a shot deflected wide for a corner mid way through the half from which James Butler headed over and in stoppage time a Mo Touray from outside the area just dipped over the bar.
The big incident of the first half occurred in the 43rd minute when Ashton’s Ales Byrne was sent off having shown his second yellow card of the game, the first for a foul on Javid Swaby-Nevin, the second for dissent.
Rylands made their man advantage count as they dominated the second half, Ashton posing little threat to the home goal, Pilling dealt comfortably with several high balls played into the box and Luke Burke hit a late free kick over the bar.
Simpson was much the busier of the two goalkeepers. He flew through the air to turn a thunderbolt shot from Dean Furman away, and also saved well to keep out shots from Chinedu Uche and Joe Piggott.
Simpson was finally beaten in the 78th minute. Piggott played the ball across the face of Ashton’s goal for ex Ashton player Ben Hardcastle to nip in and turn the ball in to his former employers net to register his first goal for Rylands.
In the closing stages the visitors pushed more men forward in search of an equalizer but left were caught out deep into stoppage time when Ben Hough broke down the right flank, delivered a low cross to Touray who back heeled the ball into the path of Scott Bakkor who made no mistake with the finish.
WARRINGTON RYLANDS: Pilling Smith Swaby-Neavin (Baillie) Regan (Hough) Butler Furman Hardcastle Neild Piggott (Bakkor) Touray Uche; Subs not used: Maieco Kyffin
ASHTON UNITED: Simpson Cowan Cusani Lonsdale Burke Abbott Byrne Milner Carroll-Burgess Potts Dawson; Subs: Gilchrist Robbins Bianga Thompson Seol
Referee William Cavanagh
Attendance 491
