by Garry Clarke
Having been knocked out of the FA Cup last Saturday by Macclesfield, Warrington Rylands are back on the road to Wembley on Friday night, 6th October, when they visit Oldham based Avro in the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Trophy, kick off 7.45pm.
Playing a step below Rylands, Avro are 3rd in the NPL West having taken 15 points from their opening 8 games although they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Kidsgrove Athletic last Saturday.
While Rylands were exepmt from entering the competition until the 3rd, and final, qualifying round round due to their status as a Premier Division club, Avro have already played their way through two rounds to reach this stage.
Both of their previous games have been played at home, in the first round they defeated NPL East Winterton Rangers 2-1 before overcoming fellow NPL West side Stalybridge Celtic 4-2 on penalties after a goal less draw.
Avro were opponents of Rylands during their North West Counties League days with the Oldham based side winning just one of the four games played between the two clubs, it was however the only cup tie.
If Friday’s encounter at the Vestacare Stadium on White Bank Road in the Limeside area of Oldham (OL8 3JH) ends all square after 90 minutes the game wiil be decided on the night by the taking of penalties.
Warrington Rylands are in action again on Tuesday 10th October when they welcome Workington to Gorsey Lane in a NPL Premier Divsion game, kick off 7.45pm.
This will be the first meeting of the two clubs since Rylands piped the Cumbrians to the 2021/22 NPL West title by a point on a dramatic last day which saw the Blues crowned champions.
Finishing 3rd last season Workington were promoted via the play offs at the end of last season and currently stand 6th on the Premier Division ladder 3 places and 2 points behind Rylands.
