Stockport Town 0 Rylands 4

A HAT-TRICK from Tom Croughan ensured Rylands emphatically made it back-to-back wins.

All four of Blues’ goals at Stockport Town came in the second half, with player/co-manager Stuart Wellstead putting them in front before Croughan took over.

“We had to make a few changes today with seven players missing for one reason or another, but I thought the lads took it in their stride and were the better team throughout the game,” co-boss David McNabb said.

“We were comfortable in the first half without being hugely creative and we were lacking a bit of quality in the final third.

“We told the lads at half time to keep trying to play but to be more expressive and take a few risks when going forward and they did just that.

“We were fantastic in the second half and everything just clicked in to place.”

Three minutes after the break, Wellstead was found by a ball over the top and he slotted past the advancing keeper.

Stuart Wellstead puts Rylands ahead. Picture by Lee Wolstencroft

Croughan then volleyed home Tom Parry’s inch-perfect cross to open his account before unleashing an unstoppable long-range effort to double his tally and effectively make the game safe.

He completed his hat-trick late on after Garry Kenny nodded a cross into his path.

Blues welcome Abbey Hulton United to Gorsey Lane on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Rylands: Yarwood, E Jones (K Jones), Williams (Parry), Kenny, Davies, Lownsborough, Riley, Wolhulter, Croughan, Wellstead (White), McNamara. Subs not used: Tree, Costello.