By Garry Clarke
Radcliffe 0-3 Warrington Rylands
WARRINGTON Rylands finally took to the Neuven Stadium pitch a day late due to Easter Monday’s visit being aborted due to a water logged pitch, and it was worth the wait as they recorded a first away win under leadership of Michael Clegg.
Scuppered by a sudden downpour two hours before kick off which left pools of standing water on the pitch yesterday both teams found conditions difficult as a strong cross wind swept heavy rain across the pitch throughout the evening.
In a frantic opening period play switched from end to end as both sides battled to get to grips with the conditions as Mo Touray blasted a shot over the bar and Radcliffe’s Michael Brewster had a shot blocked before Rylands started to gain the upper hand.
Osebi Abadaki, shot, and Scott Duxbury, header, both went close with efforts which were just off target while Radcliffe goalkeeper Jack McIntyre did well to push a Matt Sargent free kick away from the foot of the post.
McIntyre could not prevent Sargent from opening the scoring with a well taken goal in the 25th minute. Breaking down the left flank Colin Oppong surged into the Radcliffe area before pulling the ball back to Sargent who slotted the ball home.
Rylands remained in control doubling their advantage four minutes before the half time break.
The home side struggled to clear a free kick allowing the ball to be returned into their penalty area from where Duxbury twisted and turned his marker to curl a shot into the net off the far post leaving McInytre stranded.
Rylands started the second half strongly with Sargent and Abadaki drawing good saves from McInytre while Oppong and Touray were both off target with shots in the opening ten minutes of the half.
On the hour mark Radcliffe played a free kick into the Rylands box, initially Rylands struggled to clear the ball and were forced to block a number of shots before Sargent gained possession and raced three quarters of the pitch towards the opposite penalty area. He laid the ball off to Abadaki on the right but he dragged his shot across the face of Radcliffe’s goal.
Sargent made the game safe in the 74th minute curling the ball into the top corner of the net from just outside the box. A quickly taken free kick caught the home side napping allowing Joe Adams to get in behind the defence to set up Sargent.
As the game entered its final ten minutes Radcliffe started to come more into the game but struggled to find a way past a string determined Rylands defensive unit and rarely troubled Luke Pilling. The Rylands custodian, largely a spectator for most of the evening, smothered a low cross from Matt Grivosti at the near post and easily held onto a shot from Jake Thompson as Rylands.
WARRINGTON RYLANDS: Pilling Neild Mustoe Duxbury Egerton Furman (Hives) Adams Sargent Oppong (Amaral)Touray Abadaki (Abadaki); Subs not used Hunt Mantack
Attendance: 496 | Referee: Matt Archibald
Pictures: John Hopkins
