by Garry Clarke
Losing 2-1 for the second time in a week, Warrington Rylands extended their run without a league win to five games as Matlock Town completed a league double over them on a cold, wet and windy afternoon when winter arrived at Gorsey Lane.
Rylands had taken the lead in the 10th minute and for long periods of the game were the better side, but Matlock came from behind and John Johnson’s strike in the 84th minute sealed the win, but the Gladiators were indebted to goalkeeper Jim Pollard, whose outstanding display enabled them to take the points home.
However, Pollard’s day had not got off to a good start, booked in the 10th minute when he brought down Kane Drummond to concede a penalty. Former Matlock man Callum Dolan blasted his spot kick high into the roof of the net to open the scoring.
Matlock’s on loan from Derby debutant Bartosz Cybulski headed wide from a Johnson cross in the 24th minute, but the marked his birthday ten minutes later with a goal heading the equaliser from an Alex Byrne cross.
Pollard pulled off a couple of good saves before the break to deny Drummond and Dean Furman, while Alex Wiles fired a shot across the face of Rylands goal. Harry Pratt had a shot blocked and Dolan was inches wide with a shot as was Jak McCourt in the dying minutes of the first half.
Rylands started the second half on the attack with Dolan setting up Dylan Vassallo, but the on loan debutant’s shot from the edge of the area cleared the cross bar.
Pollard twice pulled off top quality saves to keep out shots from Dolan while Rylands goalkeeper Joel Torrence made a flying save to tip a Byrne corner over the bar for a corner.
Pollard made another top quality save reacting quickly to deny Vassallo from close range as he deflected a Dolan cross goal wards.
The games decisive moment arrived in the 84th minute, Rylands failed to clear a corner, the ball dropped to Johnson on the edge of the penalty area, his shot into the ground bounched and looped out of Torrence’s reach into the net.
RYLANDS – Torrence, Neild, Hunt, Mustoe, Egerton, McCourt, Dolan, Furman (Cooke), Pratt (N’Mai) Vassallo, Drummond. Subs not used Hyade, Irwin, Payne.
MATLOCK TOWN: Pollard Sharman Barnett Lees Kendall Qualter Johnston Abbott Cybulski Byrne Wiles; SUBS: Murphy Njaria Hinds Tuton Slew
Goals- Rylands Dolan 10 pen Matlock Cybulski 34, Johnson 84
ATTEN: 346
Thoughts of @banim10 after today's game #WeAreRylands pic.twitter.com/cfhBvUCX36
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) October 15, 2022
Half time here and the score is 1-1, Rylands taking the lead in 10th minute through @caldolan penalty but pegged back in the 34th minute.
All to play for in 2nd half!#WeAreRylands pic.twitter.com/WZHtq6iQC2
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) October 15, 2022
