By Garry Clarke
AFTER recording their biggest win of the season last Saturday, an in form Warrington Rylands face NPL Premier Division leaders Radcliffe in a top of the table clash tomorrow.
The two sides met at The Hive Arena on the opening day of the season when Radcliffe caught the home side cold racing into a 4 goal first half lead, but manager Michael Clegg says the humbling was the catalyst for Rylands’ flying start to the campaign, which after a run of one defeat in 17 games sees the Blues 2nd in the table and chasing a fourth promotion in five years.
“That was a really tough pill to swallow,” admits Clegg, “But as we know now, Radcliffe can do that to anyone. I went in there, 5 o’clock, everyone was absolutely boiling and we’d just been tanked 4-0.
“I looked every one of them in the eye and said, ‘Lads, you might think I’m a madman but I actually think you played well today. You created a lot of chances. You conceded five chances and they scored four. You played on the front foot. I can’t really ask for much more’.
“I said to them, ‘That same XI is going to start at Stafford next game because I believe 100 percent that this team is good enough. We won 2-0 at Stafford and I think that was a decisive moment. It got me a lot of buy-in because the players thought ‘OK, he’s got our backs and he believes in us’. We haven’t really looked back.”
Although they have lost three games compared to Rylands two, Radcliffe have led the table since mid-August having won 15 games while Rylands have 11 wins to their name, the difference is that every Radcliffe game has had a definate outcome while Rylands have been involved in 6 draws.
While Rylands were beating Stafford Rangers 7-2 last Saturday at the Hive Arena, Radcliffe had an afternoon off as a water logged pitch postponed their home FA Trophy tie against Redditch United, however they comfotably won the replay on Tuesday winning 4-0.
With four wins and 2 defeats in their last six league games Radcliffe are 4th on the division’s current form table one place above Rylands whose record over their last six league games is 3 wins, 2 draws and a defeat.
The two teams current league standings:
P W D L GF GA GD PTS POS
Rylands 19 11 6 2 32 17 15 39 2
Radcliffe 18 15 0 3 53 24 29 45 1
Having won 9 (1 defeat) of their previous 10 home games Radcliffe have the best home record in the NPL Premier while Warrington Rylands unbeaten on the road – 5 wins and 4 draws – have the 3rd best away record.
Kick off on Saturday will be 3pm at the Neuven Stadium Colshaw Close East Radcliffe Gtr Manchester M26 3PE.
