Sandbach United 1 Rylands 3

TWO second-half stunners allowed Rylands to go back to the top of the North West Counties League First Division South.

Brad Williams and Warren Gerrard scored after the break as Blues saw off Sandbach United after James Daniels’ early goal was cancelled out.

They lead the division on goal difference from Wythenshawe Amateurs – who did not play on Saturday – with Stone Old Alleynians a further three points behind.

Rylands’ early pressure was rewarded when Daniels gave them the lead with a close-range header.

However, Sandbach equalised against the run of play as Christopher Rowntree found the net 10 minutes before half-time.

The sides went into the break level but Blues went up a gear after the interval.

Just before the hour mark, Williams gave Sandbach keeper Matthew Green no chance with his curling effort from outside the area as he continued his superb form having scored four goals against backmarkers Stone Dominoes last time out.

Blues never looked back after that and Gerrard gave them a two-goal cushion with another excellent finish with 20 minutes remaining.

It is now back-to-back victories in the league for Rylands as they continue to respond well to their defeat to fellow high-fliers Abbey Hulton United on December 29.

They welcome sixth-placed Vauxhall Motors to Gorsey Lane on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Rylands: McCall, Lester, Freeman, Kenny, Lownsborough, Molyneux, Gerrard, Wolhulter, Wellstead, Daniels, Williams. Subs: Sayer, White, Moran, Picton, Croughan