Rylands 6 Abbey Hulton United 0

A BUMPER crowd at Gorsey Lane was treated to a stunning Rylands display as they climbed to second in the North West Counties First Division South.

They were too good for visitors Abbey Hulton from the start, blitzing into a 4-0 lead inside the first 10 minutes.

Blues extended their lead and managed to keep a clean sheet despite defender Daniel Tree spending the entire game in goal after regular custodian Conor Yarwood was injured in the warm-up.

Player/co-manager Stuart Wellstead scored twice, with Tom Croughan and Alex Davies also on target in Rylands’ stunning start.

Ste Wolhulter and Jay White added their names to the scoresheet after the break to complete the rout.

“After being four up inside the first 10 minutes, it was just a case of managing the game from there which I thought we did superbly throughout,” Wellstead said.

“We've been asking for consistency and I believe we're now starting to achieve it.

“However we won't be resting on our laurels and will strive to continue performing and improving each week.

“It was brilliant to see such a large crowd despite the weather.

“We hope that the numbers continue to come through the gates and support the boys.”

A large crowd of 172 assembled despite the rain and they saw Rylands get off to the perfect start inside the first minute.

A visiting defender misjudged a long clearance to allow Wellstead in behind and he duly fired into the far corner.

It got even better three minutes later when Tom Parry’s cross was cleared as far as Davies, whose superb volley left the keeper helpless.

Abbey Hulton were shellshocked, but it was to get worse as Wellstead again got in behind their defence and squared for Croughan, who took the ball round the keeper and tapped into an empty net.

The game was effectively over as a contest, but Blues made the visitors suffer more when Wellstead fired in left-footed from the edge of the area to make it 4-0.

That was the end of the scoring until the 77th minute when White found Wolhulter unmarked in the area, and he turned and fired home goal number five.

White was rewarded for a lively display off the bench by rounding off the scoring two minutes from time.

His shot from outside the area was saved, but he picked up the rebound and converted his first Blues goal.

Blues welcome league leaders Wythenshawe Amateurs – whom they trail by four points having played a game less – to Gorsey Lane on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Rylands: Tree, Davies, Parry (Vaughan), Kenny, Lownsborough, Molyneux, Riley, Wolhulter, Croughan (White), Wellstead (McMillan), Jones. Sub not used: Staniszewski.