Rylands extend unbeaten away run in goalless draw

by Garry Clarke Pictures John Hopkins

WARRINGTON Rylands extended their unbeaten away league run to 8 games playing out a goalless draw at Lancaster City as both sides cancelled each other out.

At the end of a scrappy game, a draw was a fair result as both sides were guilty of playing too many wayward passes which opponents easily intercepted. At the same time, numerous aimless long balls were comfortably dealt with by opposing defenders.

However, despite drawing a league blank for the first time since the opening day of the season, Rylands created plenty of chances to score, as did their hosts.
Although neither goalkeeper was overworked, both were called on to make some good saves to keep their sheets clean.
rylands
Lancaster goalkeeper Andre Mendes dived full length to keep out a low Scott Bakkor shot in the 20th minute and ten minutes later Rylands goalkeeper Luke Pilling instinctively stuck out a foot to divert away a Sam Bailey header from point-blank range.

Pilling also made good saves to keep out headers from Charlie Bailey and Andy Teague while Mendes also saved a header from Adama Sidibeh and shots from Ben Hardcastle and James Nield.
Numerous attempts from both sides, mainly Rylands, were off target and Lancaster’s Simon Grand had a first-half header from a corner cleared off the line by James Butler.
Rylands, who were twice forced into reshuffling the pack following injuries to key men Dean Furman and Matt Regan, twice hit the frame of Lancaster’s goal, once in each half.

In the 40th minute Bakkor curled a free kick around the defensive wall to strike an upright and in the 80th minute after Mendes had made a flying save to palm away a Bakkor shot Sidibeh crashed the rebound against the crossbar.
With five minutes of stoppage time added on, the game ended with Lancaster shouting for a penalty after Brad Carroll went down in the area after colliding with Javid Swaby Nevin as they had done in the 67th minute when Jake Connelly took a tumble as Pilling dove at his feet. Referee Wyatt rejected both claims as the points were shared.
After the game manager Michael Clegg said:”So proud of this group…. Unbeaten away from home this season, 2 points this week, could of been 6 but we are creating chances and we stick together!”

LANCASTER – Mendes, S Bailey, Brownhill (Holland-Wilkinson), Barnes, Teague, Grand, Sloan, Cowperthwaite, Lawson (Connelly), Norris (Carroll), C Bailey. Subs not used Gallagher-Alison, Clarke.

RYLANDS – Pilling, Smith, Swaby-Neavin, Butler, Regan (Thiam), Furman (German), Hardcastle, Neild, Sidibeh, Touray (Piggott), Bakkor. Subs not used Kyffin, Baillie.

Attendance 264