Rylands snap up the mintcake to strengthen top spot

by Garry Clarke Pictures Mark Percy

WARRINGTON Rylands extended their lead at the top of the NPL West table after a comfortable win against a spirited Kendal Town team whose struggles at the wrong end of the table continue.

The home side without a win since New Year’s Day created the first chance in a game played on a challenging pitch in the 5th minute. Goalkeeper Graeme McCall did well to push Donte Thompson-Prepehs shot around the post. From the resultant corner Eric Yahaya’s effort cleared the bar.

After this early scare Rylands started to get on top. Recent signing Scott Bakkor drew fine saves from Kendal keeper James McCleneghan before the visitor’s broke the deadlock in the 29th minute. Rick Smith played the ball in to the Kendal box for Andy Scarisbrick to flick it into the path of Kane Drummond who from close range tucked it in to the bottom corner.

Kendal’s Tom Fagin fired in a fierce long range shot on the half hour mark which McCall dealt with, and in the closing moments of the first half McCleneghan saved well to keep out a Scarisbrick shot from the edge of the area.

Rylands started the second half on the front foot with Bakkor rounding the keeper in the 58th minute but only finding the side netting from a tight angle. Seven minutes late Bakkor shot wide and in the 73rd minute Scarisbrick was denied by a defender’s tackle diverting the ball away for a corner as the Rylands man was about to shoot.

Rylands doubled their advantage in the 80th minute with Rick Smith coolly slotting the ball home as it dropped to him in the Kendal area.

Game now beyond their host’s reach Rylands nearly made it three in the closing stages when substitute Jack Tinning struck the cross bar.

The victory in Cumbria, their 4th in a row, extends Rylands unbeaten run to 6 games and their lead at the top of the NPL West to 3 points ahead of Workington, Leek Town and Marine who are all level on 65 points, but all three have games in hand on the Blues.

KENDAL TOWN: McClenaghan Huddlestone Basterfield Higham Dewhurst Grindrod Fagan (Kinkela) Davis (Brogan) Yahaya Thompson-Prempeh (Nightingale) Wraighte; Subs not used: Smith Bailey

WARRINGTON RYLANDS: McCall Walker Hunt (Tinning) Neild Smith Buxton Doyle Furman Bakkorr (Webb) Scarisbrick Drummond ( Egerton)

Goals – Rylands – Drummond 29, Smith 80

Attendance 121 Referee Helen Conley