by Garry Clarke Pictures Mark Percy
TOP v bottom, banana skin avoided as Warrington Rylands maintained their 3 point lead at the top of the table with a 7-0 win against already relegated Market Drayton Town and celebrated Dave McNabb’s 100th win as their manager.
Rylands held the upper hand straight from the kick-off creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities in the opening twenty minutes. Kane Drummond struck a post with a shot, Rick Smith twice head just off target from corners while Jack Tinning and Andy Scarisbrick also went close with headers.
The home side made the breakthrough in the 25th minute, a Declan Walker ball downfield found Scott Bakkor who slipped it in behind the defence for Kane Drummond to slide it past the keeper.
Bakkor netted the second, his first since returning to the club, six minutes later turning a Scarisbrick cross into the net from close range. A minute later he turned provider against setting up Walker who blasted his shot through the hands of Drayton’s goalkeeper to score from 12 yards.
A few minutes later a Market Drayton cross scrapped the top of Rylands crossbar, while moments before the break Randane Larmond received a yellow card for a late challenge on Rylands goalkeeper Graeme McCall.
Market Drayton goalkeeper Ashley Rawlins did well to keep out a shot from Scarisbrick in the opening minutes of the second half and also did well to divert a Drummond shot onto the post, Walker following up netted from the rebound.
Bakkor netted his second of the afternoon tapping home a Johnny Hunt cross from close range in the 53rd minute.
On the hour mark, a Dean Furman free-kick dipped and bounced yards in front of Rawlins, taking a wicked bounce Rawlins did well to turn the ball over his own bar.
Rylands were dominating possession and controlling the game but were finding it difficult to add to their tally as the final pass into a front man started to go astray, defenders were getting blocks on shots and the game started to peter out.
The visitors kept on working hard and despite being five goals down never gave up and started to give Rylands a few scares forcing McCall into two good saves late on.
Bakkor completed his hat-trick in the 88th minute chasing a ball downfield he intercepted an under-hit-back pass to slot past Rawlins, who was also beaten in the 90th minute as Smith stooped to head home from a Hunt corner to complete the win.
WARRINGTON RYLANDS: McCall Walker Tinning (Hunt) Neild Smith Egerton Lacey Furman (Irwin) Bakkor Scarisbrick Drummond (Buxton); SUBS: Webb Doyle
MARKET DRAYTON TOWN: Rawlins Sweeney Price Meddows Care Jones Mackay Farnsworth Larmond Johnson Dutton; SUBS: Greer East Margina
GOALS – Rylands – Bakkor 3, Walker 2, Drummond, Smith
Attendance 270 Referee – G Kearney
Drummond, Bakkor and Walker celebrating the goals that take us into the second half with a 3-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/DlnJIorGI3
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) March 19, 2022
Post Match with the gaffer after his 100th win as Rylands Manager against Market Drayton today pic.twitter.com/TXJVICSGQY
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) March 19, 2022
Today's win marks a landmark occasion for Warrington Rylands and @davidmcnabb82.
Today's win is Dave's 100th win as our manager. Since he took over in 2018, we have played 142, won 100, drew 13, lost 29 for an amazing win ratio of just over 70% Congratulations Gaffer! pic.twitter.com/2vwHpSqfUE
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) March 19, 2022