By Garry Clarke
WARRINGTON Rylands slipped out of the Liverpool Senior Cup last night, losing 4-2 on penalties to old rivals, Bootle, after building up a two goal half time lead.
The NPL West outfit started the better with Simon Wills firing over Rylands bar from the edge of the area before the home side took the lead in the 13th minute when Sean Cooke scored his first goal for the club converting from the penalty spot after Harry Pratt had been clumsily bundled over by Bootle defender Lance Houghton.
Bootle’s Jack Flight was causing problems down the right wing. Jordan Mustoe ended one run with a perfectly times sliding tackle as he bore down on goal and debutant goalkeeper Jack Cookson cut out two dangerous crosses.
Three minutes before half time Rylands doubled their advantage when Pratt opened his scoring account in a Blue shirt. Kelly N’Mai intercepted a poor clearance from Bootle goalkeeper Joe Mason, played the ball in behind the defence allowing Pratt to round the keeper and slot the ball home from a tight angle.
Rylands who control the game for large parts started the second half with N’Mai blazing a shot over the bar and Pratt drawing a fine save from Mason with a shot from the edge of the area.
Bootle rallied and gave notice of their intent when Tom Peterson glanced a header wide of the target from a cross in the 72nd minute. Five minutes later substitute Billy Smart bundled the ball into Rylands net meeting a corner at the far post to force the ball home.
Peterson leveled the scores in the 82nd minute curling a shot into the top corner, the ball hitting the post on its way into the net.
As the game entered stoppage time Bootle thought they had won the tie when Callum Longworth turned a cross from the right into Rylands net, but a raised linesman’s flag indicated he was offside.
Ten minutes later Bootle were celebrating again winning the penalty shoot out 4-2.
RYLANDS – Cookson, Mantack, Mustoe, Egerton, Duxbury (Hives), Neild, N’Mai, Furman, Pratt, Cooke, Corrigan. Sub not used, Torrance.
BOOTLE – Mason, Roberts, Sinnot, Houghton, Bell, Wills, Flight, Flight, Peterson, Ellis, McGowan. Subs Cooper, Smart, Rydal, Longworth, Hodkinson.
Goals – Rylands: Cooke 13, Pratt 43 Bootle: Smart 78, Peterson 82
