New Year off to a flying start with "near perfect" win for Rylands

by Garry Clarke

WARRINGTON Rylands opened 2023 with a convincing 3-1 win away at Marine lifting the Blues into the NPL Premier Division play-off places.

Rylands gave notice of their intentions having the ball in the back of Marine’s net in the 2nd minute but Kelly N’Mai’s effort was ruled out for offside in the build-up.

The on loan from Salford City forward was not to be denied nine minutes later. Running onto a long ball played over the Marine defence by Ben Hockenhull, N’Mai lifted the ball over the out coming Marine keeper to open the scoring.

Picture John Hopkins

Rylands goalkeeper Joel Torrance made a good save to keep out a shot from Josh Solomon-Davies in the opening minutes, but was beaten in the 23rd minute by a Sol Solomon shot from the edge of the area after the ball broke to the Marine man as Rylands struggled to clear.

Play switched from end to end as both sides tried to gain control of an entertaining game.
N’Mai was causing confusion in the Marine rearguard forcing them to scramble off the line a dangerous low cross, while at the other end Kallum Mantack cleared a Mark Howarth header off the line.
Shortly before half-time James Neild picked up a loose ball in midfield, advancing towards goal he was taken out by an attempted tackle by Marine goalkeeper Bayleigh Passant five yards outside his penalty area.
Marine successfully dealt with the free kick but were caught out deep into first half stoppage time.

Escaping with only a yellow card, Passant missed the flight of a Dylan Vassallo free kick allowing Scott Duxbury to bund;e the ball over the line from close range to register his first goal for the club and restore Rylands advantage.
An advantage they doubled six minutes into the second half. A long ball was brought down by Harry Pratt who laid it off to A-Jay Leitch-Smith, the substitute introduced at half time slipped the ball into the path of N’Mai who delivered it into the top corner with a left footed shot from outside the area which gave Passant no chance.

With captain Dean Furman pulling the strings, Rylands controlled the remainder of the game, restricting the home side’s opportunities.
Mo Toray flicked a header wide and former Rylands player Andy Scarisbrick fired a shot into the side netting, but Passant was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the later stages.
He reacted well to cut out a cross at the feet of Leitch-Smith, held onto a Mantack shot and in the 82nd minute pulled off a brilliant save diving full length to palm away a Leitch-Smith header.
N’Mai almost completed his hat-trick with a couple of minutes left on the clock he weaved his way through a tired Marine defence to beat Passant but strike the outside of the post.

Rylands – Torrance, Mantack, Mustoe, Hockenhall, Egerton, Duxbury, Neild (Leitch-Smith), Furman Pratt, N’Mai, Vassallo. Subs not used Hunt, Cookson, Cooke
Referee Daniel Hitchell Attendance 1,635

After the game Warrington Rylands caretaker-manager Jody Banim said “It was near-perfect, particularly in the second half when I thought we were outstanding, I think that second half was probably the best since I’ve been at the football club.”