Rylands end 2023 with point at Marine

by Garry Clarke

WARRINGTON Rylands brought the curtain down on 2023 by maintaining their unbeaten NPL away record with a 1-1 draw at Marine.

Rylands, who kicked off the year with a win at the same venue, go into the New Year second in the NPL Premier Division table four points behind leaders Radcliffe.

After a cagey opening feeling each other out period which saw little goalmouth action the games first attempt on goal arrived in the 14th minute when Marine goalkeeper Luke Hutchinson stopped a Ben Hardcastle free kick.

A minute later Hardcastle floated free kick into the Marine penalty area found Dj Pedro unmarked on the six yard line, but his flicked header was pushed away by Hutchinson.
Named as the home side’s man of the match Hutchnson did well to keep out James Butler’s back post header from a Hardcastle corner in the 18th minute, but the on loan from Bolton keeper could not prevent Adama Sidibeh from following up to net the rebound from close range.

The home side started to come more into the game with Sol Soloman being denied a shooting opportunity by a last ditch Clive Smith tackle, before Rylands broke away for Mo Touray to set up Sidibeh who blasted his shot into the side netting.
Going into the game in 5th place, the home side drew level in the 36th minute. Manasse Mampala drifted in the left to drill a shot from outside the area into the bottom corner of the net.
The closing stages of the first half saw play switch from end to end with Hutchinson making good saves to deny Sidibeh and Touray while Rylands goalkeeper Luke pIlling twice saved from Soloman.
The second half descended into a flat scrappy affair with Rylands being drawn into playing more of a long ball game, although both sides had their chances to win the game in the second half.

Hutchinson continued to thwart Rylands with a string of fine saves to keep out shots from Hardcastle, Touray and Sidibeh while Pilling saved well to keep out a shot from former Blue Owen Robinson and Finlay Sinclair-Smith fired a shot wide of Rylands goal.
With four minutes of extra time being played, Sinclair-Smith slalomed his way through the Rylands penalty area and was only denied a shooting opportunity by a last ditch sliding Matt Regan tackle as the points were shared.
MARINE – Hutchinson, Ferguson, Woodthorpe, Saadi (Nolan), Doyle, Wardle, Sinclair-Smith, White, Mampala (Evans), Soloman (Livesey), Robinson, sub not used Gregson, Spittle

WARRINGTON RYLANDS: Pilling Smith Swaby-Neavin Butler Regan Furman Hardcastle Neild Pedro Touray Sidibeh; Subs not used: Hough, Uche, Adams, Baillie, Hurst

Referee Jonathan Chadwick Attendance 1,529