By Garry Clarke
WARRINGTON Rylands were on the end of a seven-goal blast from EFL Division Two Salford City in their second pre-season friendly at Gorsey Lane on a hot sunny afternoon which also saw them open their new changing rooms and hospitality lounge.
The game took time to get going as both sides were feeling their way into the action with neither goalkeeper being called into action until the 30th minute when Andy Scarisbrick’s shot from the edge of the area was easily dealt with by Salford keeper Tom King.
The visitors started to get on top and cut the Rylands defence open twice in two minutes. In the 34th-minute good build-up play down the left saw the ball crossed to Conor McAlenly who fired home from the edge of the area. Two minutes Brandon Thomas-Asante turned home a cross from the right-wing.
After a number of halftime substitutions Rylands started the second half strongly with David Webb heading narrowly wide of the target and King punching a fist into the air to keep out a rising shot from Callum Dolan.
On the hour mark Salford, who fielded a strong team throughout, made several substitutions of their own which saw them end the game with an almost full-strength first team.
Their extra class was evident and had a major impact on the games, especially the introduction of Marcus Dackers who bagged himself a quick-fire hat-trick netting his first just six minutes after entering the field. He had his second less than a minute later, as from the kick-off Rylands lost possession allowing Salford to find Dackers on the edge of the area from where he fired into the bottom corner.
Dackers played a part in both of Salford’s next two goals, starting a move in the 70th minute which ended with Matty Lund tapping home from close range and then setting up Ryan Watson to score the sixth. He then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Rylands hit back netting two late consolations in the final five minutes; Kane Drummond notching both. The first came off the back of a defensive error which left the goal gaping, and the second was a powerful rising shot from a few yards out.
WARRINGTON RYLANDS: McCall Gerrard Hunt Morris Langley Neild Irwin Furman Brooke Scarisbrick Dolan; SUBS: Egerton Trialist Walker Barrigan Lacey Trialist Webb Drummond Buxton Trialist
SALFORD CITY: King Shepherd Berkoe O’Brien Vassell Melhado Watt Watson Asante McAlenly Bolton; SUBS: Trialist, Trialist, Touray, Lund, Dackers, N’Mai, Humbles.
Attendance 526
Here are the thoughts of manager @davidmcnabb82 after today's game with @SalfordCityFC #WeAreRylands pic.twitter.com/9cqM0i4bej
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) July 9, 2022
We are delighted to announce that the 1906 lounge, and new changing facilities will be used for the first time today at our game with @SalfordCityFC
Thanks to everyone involved for the hard work going into this project, we think you will agree that it looks incredible! pic.twitter.com/5cpHIpjD37
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) July 9, 2022
