by Garry Clarke Pictures: John Hopkins
WARRINGTON Rylands did not get the Christmas present they wanted from Leek Town as the three points stayed in Staffordshire.
A much-changed Rylands team, missing several players through injury and illness, was further disrupted after 7 minutes when stand-in manager Jack Hook, deputizing for the absent Dave McNabb and Fraser Ablett, was forced into an early change as influential midfielder Joe Coveney limped off the pitch.
The home side entering the game in 6th place 6 points behind Rylands gave a warning of their intentions in the opening minutes when Tim Grice chased a long ball into the away side’s area; however his shot was well saved by Graeme McCall.
The Rylands keeper also made a good save in the 15th minute to deny Dan Trickett-Smith but was unable to prevent Leek taking the lead in the 20th minute. Rob Stevenson broke down the left wing, slipped the ball inside to Trickett-Smith who lifted the ball over the advancing McCall.
A hard-working well-organised outfit, Leek seemed content to defend their lead frustrating their visitors not allowing them to play their normal fluid passing game and hitting on the break.
And it was from two such breaks they added to their tally in the second half.
Leek took a quick free kick on the halfway line; they swiftly moved the ball forward, a rasping low drive was blocked by McCall’s feet, the rebound fell to Rob Stevenson who blasted the ball home from the edge of the area.
In the 70th minute another break down the right-wing by Stevenson saw the Leek man drill a shot against an upright, fullback Jessy Bavanganga following up netted the re bound to wrap up a 3-0 win for the home side.
Not that Rylands hadn’t had goal-scoring opportunities of their own, especially in the first half when they dominated possession.
In the opening exchanges the lively Callum Dolan had a shot blocked and in the 25th minute warmed the keeper’s hands with a fiercely struck angled shot which Leek keeper Sam Booth did well to push over the bar.
In the closing stages of the first half Declan Walker twice went close with long-range shots which were just off target.
Five minutes into the second half a Rylands corner caused confusion and panic in the Leek penalty area, as it come out to the edge of the area Andy Scarisbrick’s attempt to get the ball back into the danger area is thwarted by a defenders hand.
Dolan’s free-kick bit the underside of the crossbar, from the rebound Booth made a great save to keep out Charlie Doyle’s shot, the ball is once again propelled goal wards but is scrambled off the line by frantic defenders.
Further incursions into the Leek penalty area were limited as the home side controlled the game although in the closing minutes Booth pulled off a good save to deny Scarisbrick a late consolation.
LEEK TOWN: Booth Bavanganga Keenan Grocott Harrison Ryder Wakefield Short (Reeves) Grice Trickett-Smith Stevenson (Saxon); Subs not used: Wara Brownhill Baker
WARRINGTON RYLANDS: McCall Walker (Hughes)Cunningham Gerrard Egerton Denman Doyle Coveney (Djalo) Dolan Scarisbrick Francis (Simpson); SUBS: Hilton
GOALS – Leek Town Trickett-Smith 20, Stevenson 56, Bavanganga 71
Referee William Davis Attendance 526
