A MATT Ball brace guided Rylands to a 2-0 victory over Gamesley in the Cheshire Football League Premier Division.

Rylands overcame torrid footballing conditions and a hard working Gamesley.

With the strong wind behind them, Rylands started quickly, looking to turn the Gamesley full backs at the earliest opportunity.

It took just 3 minutes for the blues to come close, with Greg Freeman flicking Mike Southern’s cross narrowly past the far post with the ‘keeper beaten.

As Rylands flooded forward, Gamesley hit on the break on 18 minutes, but the number 11 could only fire wide of Gareth Powell’s goal when well placed.

Rylands came close to opening the scoring on 25 minutes when Stephen Latham’s volley from Southern’s corner was cleared off the line, before Calum Wilson’s goalbound drive was blocked by the brave Gamesley defender.

The blues took a well earned lead on 43 minutes when Matt Ball latched on to a ball in behind the Gamesley left-back, firing low on the angle from just inside the area in to the bottom corner to score his first goal in a Rylands shirt.

The conditions took a turn for the worst in the second half, with torrential rain joining the fierce winds blowing from the railway end.

Both sides understandably struggled to keep hold of the ball, but Rylands managed to keep Gamesley pegged inside their own half relatively well.

It took until the 70th minute for the game to spring to life.

Gamesley again hit on the break, and Powell was forced into a fabulous reaction save down to his right when found one-on-one with the Gamesley striker.

The home side went straight on the break and Ball went on a mazy run from right back, coming inside and beating almost the entire Gamesley team single handedly, before coolly finishing in to the bottom right corner to double the advantage.

The goal killed off the visitors, and the blues had further chances to extend the lead through Ben Latham, Ben Howard, James Daniels and Kurt McCarthy, before the referee called time on what proved to be a good afternoon at the office for Rylands.

Rylands: Gareth Powell, Matt Ball, Mike Southern (Josh Dagley ’80), David France, Stephen Latham, Greg Freeman (Ben Latham ’60), Ben Howard, Daniel Sisson (Tom Gibson ’78), James Daniels, Kurt McCarthy Manager Danny Salt said: "It was nice to get back to winning ways in the league after last week's disappointing defeat.

"I felt we controlled the game throughout despite the tough conditions and were good value for our victory.

"We probably should have scored more than we did and we owe thanks to our 'keeper, Gaz Powell for his wonderful save in the second half which could have levelled the scores.

"We're starting to get players fit again now and we look forward to Monday's derby at Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds."