Rylands fight back to claim a point

by Garry Clarke Pictures John Hopkins

NOT every game can be won with pretty flowing football, sometimes you just have to dig in, battle the conditions and grind out a result.

And that’s just what Warrington Rylands did at Clitheroe to come from 2-0 down at halftime to snatch a point.

On a pitch sloping in several directions and cutting up from minute one, conditions did not suit Rylands usual passing game as rain lashed the Shawbridge arena. The strong gusting wind dictated most of the play as at times teams attacking the clubhouse end were unable to clear their half as the ball was being held up in the wind.

The home side held the upper hand in the first half when playing with the wind at their backs. Rylands goalkeeper Graeme McCall was forced into several smart saves in the opening exchanges, while Rylands best chance of the half fell to Joe Coveney after a well-worked corner routine found him in space on the edge of the area; his shot was blocked on the line.

Clitheroe opened the scoring in the 25th minute, a long ball found Ben McKenna who chipped in a cross from the left flank which found Max Cane unmarked at the far post to nod home from close range.

McKenna was the source for Clitheroe’s second goal in the 39th minute. Delivering another cross from the left wing into a packed Rylands six yard box, the ball fell to Ritchie Baker who fired through a sea of legs to double his side’s advantage.

Playing with the wind at their backs, Rylands dominated the second half with Kane Drummond going close in the opening minutes.

Drummond was on target in the 57th minute, sliding in he diverted a low driven Declan Walker cross into the Clitheroe net.

If there was a similarity between Clitheroe’s two first-half goals, both coming from crosses from the left, then Rylands two second half goals were also remarkably similar, both coming from low crosses driven in the right-wing.

In the 71st minute, on debut Clitheroe defender Jack Hopkins, with no red-shirted attackers in sight, steered Callum Dolan’s skidding cross into his own net to level the scores.

With Clitheroe penned into their own half for much of the remainder of the game, Rylands kept on pushing for a winner. A defender headed a Walker cross inches wide of his own goal, and goalkeeper Lee Camp twice saved well to keep out an Andy Scarisbrick shot and a Rick Smith header.

The Northern Ireland international was also having problems dealing with Jack Tinning’s crosses from the left, dropping two in the closing minutes leading to goalmouth scrambles. The first ended with Dolan curling a shot just inches over the angle of the goal, while the second ended with the ball in the back of the Clitheroe net.

The goal was disallowed for an infringement spotted by the referee, who seconds later brought to an end an high quality encounter which kept the 541 strong crowd entertained despite the terrible weather conditions.

Joe Coveney congratulates Drummond – Picture John Hopkins

CLITHEROE – Camp, Edwards, Stone (Burrows), Barker, Hopkins, Priestly, McKenna, Wilkins, Gonzarles, Byrom (Dent), Cane (Connelly). Subs not used Jeanne, Bristol,

REFEREE – D Bradley ATTENDANCE 541

Here’s the thoughts of Declan Walker following today’s draw…#WeAreRylands pic.twitter.com/ie8usAc00f

— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) February 5, 2022

And here’s the thoughts of our manager David McNabb…#WeAreRylands pic.twitter.com/GWmwQhTTMr

— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) February 5, 2022