Two wins set Rylands up for a Happy Christmas

BY GARRY CLARKE
IT’S been a good week for Rylands, winning two away games to keep up the pressure on the league leaders narrowing the gap between themselves and third place – which this season provides an extra promotion spot – to just a single point.
Having seen their previous four scheduled league games postponed Rylands returned to NWCFL action on Tuesday winning 3-1 at Padiham and followed up with a 1-0 win at Avro.
Mark Ayres’ looping header gave Padiham an early lead but the sides were level at the break, Gary Kenny equalizing minutes before half time with another headed goal. Two late goals from Kane Drummond secured the three points for Rylands against a team which ended the game with nine men as two of their players received red cards during the second half.
After the game manager Dave McNabb commented “Very good battling performance last night against a strong Padiham side on a heavy pitch. We played some great stuff in the second half and kept our discipline”.
Saturday brought a trip to Oldham to play Avro, who like Rylands were promoted to the Premier Division last summer – Avro stepping up from the First Division North and Rylands from the South Division.
In a game in which both sides created numerous goal scoring opportunities, Freddie Potter was the Blues’ match winner converting from the penalty spot in the 76th minute.
McNabb described the game as a “proper game of footy that today against a very good Avro side. A 50/50 game that could have gone either way. Made up to get the win”.
Making his Rylands debit on Saturday was Jordan Wynne an attacking midfielder signed earlier in the week from Hyde United. The 21 year old had spells in the Everton, Liverpool, Wigan Athletic and AFC Fylde Academy set-ups before playing Northern Premier League football for Prescot Cables Runcorn Linnets and Trafford.
Rylands have two derby games scheduled for the Christmas period. Mid table Runcorn Town visit Gorsey Lane on Boxing Day and Rylands travel to Barnton on Saturday to take on league leaders 1874 Northwich. Both games kick off at 3pm