Warrington Town fight back to beat Rylands in derby

WARRINGTON Town fought back from a goal down to beat Rylands 2-1 in the derby at Gorsey Lane.

Jordan Buckley’s brace turned things around for the Yellows who had been second best in the first half in front of a crowd of 1,809.

Buckley knocked the ball round Kallum Mantack on half way and then drove a low shot past former Yellows ‘keeper Luke Pilling, making his Rylands debut, to level things up after AJ Leitch-Smith’s first half opener.

A back post header then turned the game around and proved enough for Mark Beesley’s side to extend their unbeaten run to seven games.

After the thrilling 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture at Cantilever Park, much was expected from a hotly anticipated fixture and even the swirling wind and rain couldn’t dampen the occasion.

Such was the interest in the game that kick-off had to be delayed by 15 minutes, and when the game got going, Rylands were the better side.

Their high pressing and the pace of Kelly N’Mai was creating problems, and it was N’Mai chasing a lost cause that created the first goal.

He got beyond Matty McDonald, playing in the unfamiliar position on the left of a back three at the back, and pulled back for Leitch-Smith in space in the box and he fired a shot across Tony Thompson and in.

It was the least Rylands deserved for their performance in the first 20 minutes and they should have had a second when Leitch-Smith robbed Andy White and poked through for Kyle Hayde, who blazed over from close range.

Leitch-Smith hit a shot in to the side netting and N’Mai hooked over the bar when free in the box from Hayde’s cross in.

The Yellows were forced to revert back to their usual system and after the half hour mark, gained a foothold in the game.

Their first chance fell to Jay Harris, who had a shot cleared off the line by Hayde after Pilling’s poor clearance, though a goal there would have been very much against the run of play.

A better chance fell to Harris shortly before half time when he was picked out by Buckley’s cross field pass, but he hit his first time shot wide.

A superb tackle by the excellent Tom Hannigan denied N’Mai in the box and Rylands led 1-0 at half time.

Whatever Beesley said at half time contributed to a completely different second half and within seven minutes of the restart, the Yellows were level.

While still working his way back to full fitness, Buckley showed signs of his best as he flicked the ball past Mantack on half way and then raced away and coolly fired home past Pilling for 1-1.

For a 10 minute spell, Buckley was tormenting Rylands and he should have laid on a chance moments later for Dixon.

Pressure from Josh Amis then helped create a chance for himself, Pilling saving well with his legs from close range and the Yellows forced successive corners.

From the second, Buckley nodded in from Sean Williams’ delivery in front of the large travelling support to put them in front.

Rylands briefly rallied, Ben Hockenhull heading wide from a Dylan Vassallo free kick, but they failed to carve out any real clear cut opportunities.

With 10 minutes to play, Amis had a golden chance to square it to Buckley for a hat-trick, but was held up by Hockenhull.

Two goals proved enough though to consolidate the Yellows’ play-off place ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Atherton Collieries.

Rylands: Piling, Hayde, Mantack (Pratt), Duxbury, Egerton, Hockenhull, Nield (McCourt), Furman, Leitch-Smith, N’Mai, Vassallo (Cooke). Unused subs: Hunt, Mustoe.

Warrington Town: Thompson, Walker, White, Hannigan, Gumbs, Harris, Buckley (Clarke), Williams (Duggan), Amis, Dixon, McDonald. Unused subs: Buckley-Ricketts, Duffy, Mols.

Half time here and the blues are leading 1-0 thanks to AJ Leitch-Smith goal

Second half coming up!#WeAreRylands pic.twitter.com/5jYJo3gUIr

— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) January 14, 2023

GOAL! 62 | That man again! Williams' corner on the money and Buckley nods it home at the back post. 1-2. pic.twitter.com/JGXnhl7b18

— Warrington Town FC (@theyellows) January 14, 2023