MSB Woolton 4 Rylands 5

RYLANDS qualified for the last 16 of the Liverpool County Cup on Saturday, beating MSB Woolton after extra time thanks to a Odi Koubemba hat-trick.

Blues surrendered a 4-1 lead with 25 minutes to go, but rallied to score the all-important winner late on.

Rylands started brightly and took the lead after four minutes, when Stephen Latham headed home Ben Latham’s cross after a short corner routine.

The visitors were dominating the game, creating opportunities almost at will.

Koubemba, Haydn Fraser and Ben Latham all came close, before the former doubled Rylands' advantage on 35 minutes, finishing well after latching on to Tom Gibson’s through ball.

Shortly before half-time it was 3-0 when Latham netted his first of the season, finishing well past the on-rushing Woolton keeper.

The hosts shot out of the blocks in the second half and replied on 50 minutes, but it was a quick response from Blues as Koubemba notched his second after being played in by Kurt McCarthy.

Two goals in two minutes from Woolton made it 4-3, and after Koubemba saw a penalty saved it was the hosts who levelled. from a penalty of their own late in injury time.

To their credit, Rylands’ heads didn’t go down, and they found some of their first-half form again.

Shortly into the second half of extra time, it was Blues who found the all-important fifth goal, when Koubemba finished off his hat-trick, heading home after Latham’s driving run forward from the back and cross.

Rylands: Matt Latham, Tom Gibson, Josh Dagley, David France (Lee Roberts 60), Calum Wilson (James Sinker 60), Stephen Latham, Ben Latham, Kurt McCarthy, Odi Koubemba, Haydn Fraser (Tom Swann 60), Lee Hughes.

RYLANDS’ second string made it back-to-back victories in Reserve Division Two, with a 3-1 win at Wythenshawe Town.

Billy Anderson, Luke McCoy and Joe Thomas fired home for the table toppers.

RYLANDS’ under 21s landed their first win of the season on Sunday too, goals from Sean Preston, two, Matty James and Elliot Newsholme.