Matt finish puts gloss on Rylands' victory

By Garry Clarke Pictures John Hopkins

WARRINGTON Rylands put their two recent cup exits behind them beating Workington 1-0, a win which moves them back up to second place in the NPL table.

The game’s deciding moment occurred in the 77^th minute. A Ben Hardcastle corner found Matty Regan at the far post, raising highest his powerful header the Workington goalkeeper no chance as he registered his first goal for Rylands.
A 427 strong Gorsey Lane crowd was kept entertained by a competitive open game which saw play switch from end to end with both teams hitting their opponent’s woodwork.
Workington’s Kofi Moore smashed a header against Rylands’ crossbar midway through the first half while Scott Bakkor chipped a penalty against the same part of the frame on the hour mark after Adama Sidibeh had been brought down.

Rylands enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges with a Bakkor cross drifting just wide of the far post and Workington goalkeeper Jim Atkinson tipping a Sidibeh shot over the bar, while Rylands goalkeeper Luke Pilling kept out a Connor Tinnion free kick.
On the stroke of half time a Javid Swaby-Neavin cross into a packed penalty area fell to Regan who from close range stabbed at the ball, Atkinson managed to scramble the ball behind for corner from which Regan headed inches wide of the target.
The opening minutes of the second half saw Sidibeh and Hardcastle both have shots blocked by desperate Cumbian defenders, while Pilling twice denied Workington’s Kitt Nelson in the space of a minute.

First he got down to save a shot from the edge of the area which flew a crowded penalty area and then he cut out a dangerous cross as he was challenged by an onrushing red-shirted attacker.
After Regan’s decisive intervention Workington enjoyed the greater share of the ball but for all their efforts searching for an equaliser could not find a way past Pilling and his resolute defenders, while the home side had several chances to increase their lead in the closing minutes.
Hitting their opponents on the break Sidibeh and Mo Touray, twice, forced Atkinson into good saves with Sidibeh also firing a shot into the side netting.

RYLANDS – Pilling, Smith, Swaby-Neavin, Butler,Regan, Furman, Hardcastle, Neild, Sidibeh, Hough (Piggott), Bakkor(Touray). Subs not used Wilson, Baillie, Kyffin.
WORKINGTON AFC: Atkinson Wallbank Leslie Wordsworth Casson Brookwell (McCarrager) K Moore (Hubbold) Nelson (Devitt) Rigg Allison Tinnion; SUBS: L Moore, Bell
Attendance 427 Referee T Smith
Man of the match as selected by match sponsors Knox & Son – Clive Smith

⚽️GOALS⚽️@MattRegan14 secured the points last night with this bullet header from @BHardcastle_ corner.#WeAreRylands pic.twitter.com/b7gWCZ9tdg

— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) October 11, 2023