Rylands come out on top in Warrington derby

Pictures John Hopkins

RYLANDS came out on top in the Easter Monday derby as they beat Warrington Town 1-0.

Ben Hardcastle’s strike off the inside of the post two minutes into the second half settled the game in front of a 1,946 crowd at the Cal.Delivery Stadium.

While the Yellows’ season had long been written off, the three points don’t just secure local bragging rights for Rylands, but moves them closer to securing a play-off place.

The hosts had the first chance of the game, Josh Vela controlling and shooting wide on the turn on eight minutes.
The Yellows then lost two players through injury in quick succession, experienced midfielder Jay Harris and centre-back Scott Butler, which forced a change in shape.

Reece Daly glanced a header wide from James Melhado’s cross, before Daly and substitute Elliott Morris both hit weak shots straight at Luke Pilling.

Rylands hadn’t had any chances in the first half but took the lead within two minutes of the restart, Hardcastle found in space on the edge of the box on the right and he steered a left-footed shot off the inside of the far post.

The visitors would have doubled their lead through Harrison Wood on 55 minutes but for a smart save by Liam Isherwood, as they continued to run the midfield.

Gradually though they sat back, and the Yellows had a couple of half chances without really testing their former ‘keeper Pilling.

He plucked a Troy Bourne header out of the air, but just had to watch as Jordan Scanlon drove a shot over the bar and late on Max Thompson glanced a header over from Daly’s corner.

The Yellows don’t have a game next week and next face Workington at home on April 18.

With two games remaining, Rylands remain firmly in the play-off hunt, with crucial fixtures still to come against Stocksbridge Steels, this coming Saturday, April 11th and Stockton Town.

Warrington Town: Isherwood, Bourne, J Doyle, Gumbs, Butler (Morris), Vela (Thompson), Melhado, Harris (Scanlon), Murphy, Daly, Tweedley. Unused subs: Shaw, Roper.

Rylands: Pilling, Smith, Regan, Furman (Hough), Gamble, Caddick (Kiwomya), Wood, Munro, Waring, Hardcastle, Hall. Unused subs: Webster, Tioffo, Muyengwa.