Rylands come from behind to rescue a point against Basford

by Garry Clarke Pictures John Hopkins

ON a frustrating afternoon Warrington Rylands required a late Adama Sidibeh goal to rescue a point against relegation-threatened Basford United at a bitterly cold Hive Arena.

Rylands dominated the first-half possession from the off forcing Basford goalkeeper Kieran Preston into three saves in the opening five minutes to keep out efforts from Javid Swaby-Neavin, Dean Furman and Sidibeh and a Mo Touray shot from outside the area on the half-hour mark.

Preston was also called upon to take several high balls played into his area by the home side as they struggled to break down a well-organised defensive unit that kept as many men behind the ball as possible.

Having held their hosts at bay, the visitor’s best opportunity of the first half came on the stroke of halftime when Tyler Dacres got in behind the defence but shot wide.

Basford had the better of the early exchanges after the break with Rylands goalkeeper Luke Pilling keeping out shots from Dacres and Hallem and doing well to take a cross from Dacres whilst being challenged by Basford forwards.

Rylands started to regain control of the game, with Sidibeh firing a long-range shot just over the bar, but fell behind in the 63rd minute when found at the far post by Jordan Hallam’s cross Remaye Campbell leapt highest to power home his header.

Substitute Joe Adams, making his debut having signed the previous day from Atherton Collieries, unleashed a shot from outside the area which Preston tipped over for a corner. A corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble which eventually saw the ball smuggled away.

Rylands were continuing to have difficulty in breaking down the stubborn Basford defence until the 86th minute when Adams slipped the ball through to Sidibeh who smashed the ball past Preston for his 10th goal of the season.

Adama scores – Picture John Hopkins

Despite an extra five minutes of added time in which Sidibeh attempted an overhead shot which Preston saved after Basford had struggled to clear a corner neither side could find another goal and the points were shared.

WARRINGTON RYLANDS: Pilling Smith Swaby-Neavin (Uche) Neild Regan Furman Hardcastle (Adams) German Pedro (Piggott) Touray Sidibeh; SUBS: Baillie Hough

BASFORD UNITED: Preston Roma Wilder Ritzema Frizelle Fenton Dacres Thomas Campbell Hallam Barnes; SUBS: Lewis Wakefield Goddard Alexander McDonald

Referee William Cavanagh Attendance 388

GOALS@AdoSidibeh drew the blues level with 5 minutes left with a great finishhttps://t.co/v1OKnkWsNd

— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) November 25, 2023