by John Hopkins
WARRINGTON Rylands completed a perfect Bank Holiday weekend with a 3-1 victory over lowly Bamber Bridge.
Playing two games within three days was always going to be a challenge, but with the comeback win at Alfreton Town still fresh in their minds, Reno’s squad was more than up to the task.
It was Brig who started the better, hitting the crossbar after five minutes. However, just three minutes later, at the other end, Harrison Wood pounced on a mistake by Goodness Gospel-Eze and came close to scoring the opener.
In an end-to-end first half, both sides created chances and both goalkeepers were called upon to make important saves.
Shots came thick and fast from Rylands, with Wood, Hardcastle, Costello, Waring and Smith all testing Gospel-Eze. Wood continually caused problems for the Bamber Bridge defence as he ran through their lines time and again, but the first goal came from Adam Caddick just before the half-hour mark.
Harrison Wood scores the second – Picture John Hopkins
With only minutes remaining in the first half, George Waring received the ball down the right wing, shrugged off the attention of a Brig defender and crossed into the goalmouth. Wood was on hand to put the ball safely into the net.
Bamber Bridge began the second half as they had the first, putting pressure on the Blues defence. During a goalmouth scramble, Luke Pilling fell to the floor claiming he had been fouled, but the referee ignored his appeals. Brig recycled the ball and James Butterworth managed to put it into the net.
Warrington recently lost to Workington after holding a two-goal lead, so the home supporters began to fear the worst. However, their worries proved unnecessary as their team remained in complete control.
Reno made a few changes as the game progressed. One minute after coming off the bench, Billy Whaite forced a great save from Gospel-Eze, but when the ball bounced away from the goalkeeper, Jake Burton was the first to react. With his first touch of the match, he powered the ball into the back of the net.
Things got worse for Bamber Bridge when Archie Lang was shown a red card after receiving a second yellow.
Next Saturday, Warrington take a break from league action as they host Hyde United in the First Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup. Hyde will arrive riding the wave of a home victory against Bury.
Adam Caddick opened the scoring – Picture John Hopkins
