Ellesmere Rangers 1 Rylands 5

STUART Wellstead says his Rylands side "controlled the game throughout" as they announced their arrival in the North West Counties League in emphatic style.

The Gorsey Lane side were playing their first ever game at this level and swept aside Ellesmere Rangers on the opening day of the Division One South season on Saturday.

Player/co-manager Wellstead led from the front with a hat-trick, while Garry Kenny also weighed in with a double as Blues made a fruitful trip to Shropshire.

"To take the three points in such fashion in the club's inaugural game in the North West Counties Football League is a great achievement," Wellstead said.

"We started brightly and it was only a matter of time before we scored. Once we did, we controlled the game throughout.

"Full credit to the lads, who performed to a very high level and we aim to continue maintaining the same standards when we travel to Alsager next week and throughout the rest of the season.

"It was disappointing to concede a late goal from the penalty spot, but we've still got things to work on.

"Full credit to Ellesmere, who played in the right way right up until the final whistle."

Blues started brightly without creating too many clear-cut chances, until Wellstead headed home Brad Williams' corner.

The visitors then went from having their noses in front to being in full control in the final five minutes of the first half.

Wellstead crossed for skipper Kenny to head in the second goal before he latched onto a long kick from goalkeeper Graeme McCall to put Rylands 3-0 up at the break.

The hot conditions made for a slow start to the second half, but Kenny got Rylands back on the scoring trail with another header, with Williams again supplying the assist from a corner.

Fittingly, it was joint-boss Wellstead who rounded things off for Blues, picking himself up after being fouled in the box to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot.

Ellesmere did get a late consolation through Jack Briscoe's spot-kick, but it was Rylands' day.

They are away again on Saturday as they travel to Alsager Town, kick off 3pm.

Rylands: McCall, Tree (Colford), Williams, Kenny, Lownsborough, Sayer, Riley, Wolhuter, Bowers, Wellstead (Hayes), McMillan (Vaughan)