report & pictures by John Hopkins
WARRINGTON Rylands’ first match without ‘The Gaffer’, Michael Clegg, who departed midweek to Macclesfield, resulted in a disappointing 1 – 4 defeat to Gainsborough Trinity who currently sit 15th in the NPL Premier League.
Once again Dean Furman and Sam Wilson took control but they were still without a few key players in the squad.
It took just eight minutes for Declan Howe to put Gainsborough a goal ahead, beating Luke Pilling from close range. Warrington met them head-on for the rest of the half but as they pushed forward they looked suspect as Trinity sent the ball over the top for break-away runs.
Early in the second half Djavan Pedro was fouled just outside the penalty area but fell onto the leg of Daniel Devine. This resulted in a horrible break of the leg and a long hold-up whilst he was treated and stretchered off the pitch.
Picture John Hopkins
The hosts pulled one back on 58 minutes when a Dean Furman corner met Dan Cockerline whose headed ball shot into the goalmouth where Mo Touray was in position to head past the onlooking David Robson.
However, it was just 16 minutes later when Gainsborough re-took the lead. Djavan Pedro received a second yellow card and Rylands, now playing with just ten players, could not prevent goals from Dylan Cogill, Joe Stacey and a second from Declan Howe on 90 minutes. Fresh legs from the bench did nothing to change the run of play.
The travelling side now boasts a three-game winning run.
Warrington Rylands have just a few days to re-set, returning to Broadhurst Park on Tuesday 5 March for a re-match against FC United of Manchester, following their abandoned match due to a waterlogged pitch. Next Saturday they travel to relegation strugglers Bradford Park Avenue who won 2-3 at The Hive Arena a month ago
Warrington Rylands:
1 Luke Pilling 2 Javid Swaby-Neavin 3 Liam Brockbank 4 Clive Smith 5 James Neild 6 Dean Furman 7 Florian Yonsian 8 Ben Hough 9 Daniel Cockerline 10 Momodou Touray 11 Djavan Pedro 12 Mark Duffy 14 Toby Hurst 15 Joe Adams 16 James Baillie 17 Ethan Young
Gainsborough Trinity:
1 David Robson 2 George Hornshaw 3 Ashley Jackson 4 Bailey Conway 5 Hamish Douglas 6 Dylan Cogill 7 Lewis Butroid 8 Daniel Devine 9 Fraser Preston 10 Declan Howe 11 Bobby Johnson 12 Nat Wallace 14 Jack Moore-Billam 15 Joel Holvey 16 Kyle Simpson 17 Joe Stacey
‘The greatest strength in that dressing room is the group’
Sam Wilson is here to give his thoughts after Warrington Rylands lose to Gainsborough Trinity. #CommunityClub #WeAreRylands #OneClub #OneCommunity pic.twitter.com/iMZlsnMmmI
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) February 24, 2024
