by Garry Clarke Pictures Mark Percy
An 81st-minute strike by Adama Sidibeh separated Warrington Rylands and Ilkeston Town at the New Manor Ground.
Surrendering a 13-game unbeaten run last weekend, Rylands maintained second place in the NPL Premier Division as they extended their seasonal unbeaten away record to 9 games with a 1-0 win.
The decisive moment arrived when Ben Hough diverted a Javid Swaby-Neavin cross towards goal; Ilkeston goalkeeper Matt Yates palmed the ball into the path of Sidibeh who slotted it into the net from six yards.
A minute after entering the action as a 72nd-minute substitute Sidibeh had smashed the ball into the roof of Ilkeston’s net, however Clive Smith who delivered the cross had already been flagged offside.
Yates was the busier of the two goalkeepers in a game which until Sidibeh’s intervention looked to be heading for a goalless draw.
The Ilkeston custodian reacted to quickly to smoother a Joe Piggott shit at point-blank range in the opening minutes whilst he also fielded shots from outside the box from James Neild and Swaby-Neavin.
The home side’s main attacking threat came from the long throws of Llarell King which caused confusion in the Rylands penalty area leading to Tyrell Waite twice shooting over the bar.
The second half started with Waite stabbing a shot wide of the target after Jaime Walker had a shot blocked after another long throw. Yates did well to hold onto a Bakkor volley, while on the hour mark, the Rylands drove a free kick from 25 yards just over the bar.
Two minutes after Sidibeh’s goal, Mo Touray intercepted a clearance, spotting Yates out of position he shot from the centre circle, with the keeper scrambling to get back the ball went wide.
With a couple of minutes remaining an Ilkeston cross found King unmarked at the far post, he knocked the ball down to Zack Goodson who steered his shot wide.
With five minutes stoppage time added on Warrington Rylands controlled the final stages to deservedly claim the three points.
ILKESTON – Yates, King, Parker, Minkey, Perch, Cox, Waite, T Marshall, A Marshall (Starkie), Eratt-Thompson (Goodson), Walker (Laughlin). Subs not used Wilder, Brandy.
RYLANDS – Pilling, Smith, Swaby-Neavin, Butler (Hough), Regan, Furman Thiam (Hardcastle), Neild, Piggott (Sidibeh), Touray, Bakkor . Subs not used Uche, German
Attendance 593
A happy manager – Picture Mark Percy
Ilkeston post match interview is now available on our YouTube channel https://t.co/S1cL06kic8
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) November 11, 2023
GOALS
Adama Sidibeh scored the only goal of the game with 9 minutes to play, to seal all 3 points on the road for the blues yesterday.https://t.co/GHxhfIWYtn
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) November 12, 2023
