By Garry Clarke Pictures John Hopkins
TWO late goals allowed Warrington Rylands to put their poor start to the season behind them as they beat Bamber Bridge 2-0 at Gorsey Lane.
Without a win in their first three games in the NPL Premier Division, Rylands showed their intent from the kick-off with Andy Scarisbrick drawing a save from Bamber goalkeeper Felix Goddard in the opening minutes, while Callum Dolan had an early shot blocked.
With neither side having recorded a win this season there seemed to be nervousness about both sides play as play switched from end to end in a frantic opening period.
Whilst never really threatening Rylands goal, Bamber had their chances in the first half with Rhys Turner twice shooting over the bar from outside the area.
Rylands were on top for most of the first half with Goddard saving shots from Dean Furman and Dolan, while Dolan was just off target with a couple more and Josh Langley headed wide from a corner.
In an at times feisty second half, Rylands continued to have the better of the game with Goddard continue to provide a barrier they could not break down as he saved well to deny Dolan and Kane Drummond.
When Drummond finally got past Goddard in the 50th minute he was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Nathan Pond as he was about to pull the trigger after rounding the goalkeeper.
Rylands broke the deadlock in the 71st minute when Goddard saved Drummond’s initial shot from the edge of the area, but was unable to prevent substitute David Webb from gleefully smashing the rebound home.
Bamber pushed more men forward in search of an equalizer but never looked like scoring and started to leave gaps at the back which Rylands tried to exploit as one sweeping length of the pitch move ended with Goddard turning a Jak McCourt shot away for a corner.
However, as the game entered stoppage time the Bamber custodian was unable to prevent McCourt from making the game safe. Bamber struggled to clear from a corner, the ball fell to the Rylands debutant who drilled a shot through a herd of players and watched in delight as the ball squirmed under the keeper’s body to nestle in the back of the net.
WARRINGTON RYLANDS: Appleyard Neild Hunt Morris Langley Furman Irwin (Mustoe) Scarisbrick Brooke Dolan (Webb) Drummond (McCourt); Snot used: Egerton Braithwaite
BAMBER BRIDGE: Goddard Churchman Hughes Perkins Pond Thomson Alabi (Green) Skinner Turner Sinclair (Riding) Sinclair-Smith; Subs not used: Daly Wilson
Referee Daniel Hitchell Attendance 423
Man of the match selected by matchday sponsors H.B.Clark = Kane Drummond.
