by Garry Clarke
WARRINGTON Rylands progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Vase for the first time in their history, winning yet another thrilling penalty shootout to defeat West Auckland Town.
For the third time in their FA Vase adventure, the scores were level at full time and penalties were needed to separate the combatants.
And for the third time their opponents, all from the North East, were vanquished.
Once again goalkeeper Graeme McCall was the hero saving spot kicks from Tony Bell and Aaron Hegerty as Rylands won the shoot out. With Dennis Knight missing the target only Adam Mitchell found the back of the net for the visitors while Rylands trio of penalty takers – Paul Shanley, Joe Coveny, Elliot Nevitt – were all on the mark.
The preceding ninety minutes had not been without incident as two evenly matched committed teams had traded blows in a fiercely contested cup tie littered with hefty challenges.
Rylands started the brighter of the two sides in the sun at Gorsey Lane with the strong running Nevitt causing the visitors plenty of problems and forcing their goalkeeper Decklan Greenwood into a couple of fine saves. However, as the half progressed West Auckland Town started to gain the upper hand with McCall being the busier of the two keepers approaching half time.
The second half started with Rylands on the attack with Nevitt going close, running onto a through ball he held off a defender’s challenge to scoop the ball over Greenwood but wide of the far post.
In the 58th minute Rylands had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Ben Wyatt when from a corner Sam Sheen’s shot appeared to strike a defender’s arm. Ten minutes later an Andy Scarisbrick shot looked to have been blocked by a defenders arm, again no penalty.
In between the two penalty shouts Rylands broke the deadlock on the hour mark. Scarisbrick broke down the right flank, cutting inside he drew the goalkeeper to him before slipping the ball to Shanley who tapped it into the empty net drawing loud cheers from the viewers watching the behind closed doors game via the live stream in the beer garden ten yards from the ground.
Having fallen behind, Auckland upped their game adding more weight to their attack and leveled the scores in the 77th minute with a somewhat fortunate equaliser. A corner was whipped into a packed penalty area the ball rebounded of a Rylands defender and ended up in the back of the net.
Both sides went searching for the winning goal but to no avail and onto penalties it was.
Rylands held their nerve and welcome Hebburn Town to Gorsey Lane in the quarter-finals on a date to be confirmed due to Hebburn’s involvement in the 2020 FA Vase final at Wembley on Monday May 3rd.
By the way, Hebburn is another team from the North East – penalties anyone?
RYLANDS TEAM V WEST AUCKLAND
McCall, Lees, Tinning, Smith, Denman, Sheen, Doyle, Scarisbrick, Nevitt, Ready, Shanley.
Subs used Freeman, Coveney, Potter. Subs not used Kenny, Emery, Jones, Morris
Thoughts from gaffer @davidmcnabb82 and penalty shootout wizard @podge1404 on today’s win… pic.twitter.com/y3imbxA9lI
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) April 24, 2021
We love a good penalty shootout!
It's a good job we have some fantastic penalty takers and the best shot stopper in the biz.#WeAreWarringtonRylands ⚽🔵 pic.twitter.com/LzrUBEC0Vx
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) April 24, 2021
Fantastic result at @RylandsFC today against West Auckland Town FC in the 5th round of the FA Vase! Have that @DehennaDavison 🏆 pic.twitter.com/15leX4Us5T
— Charlotte Nichols (@charlotte2153) April 24, 2021
