REVENGE will be on Rylands’ minds over Christmas as well as continuing their excellent league form.

Neighbours Runcorn Town make the short trip to Gorsey Lane on Boxing Day in the first of two games in three days over the festive period.

Blues then visit North West Counties League Premier Division leaders 1874 Northwich on Saturday in a clash of two in-form sides.

First, though, Dave McNabb’s side are tasked with getting one over on the side who ended their first ever FA Cup campaign at the first hurdle in August.

“Runcorn will be another tough game in the calendar for us,” the Blues boss said.

“We played them in the FA Cup earlier in the season and they beat us 2-0.

“We didn’t really show up on the day but part of that was down to Runcorn’s performance, so I think it’s going to be a really tough game for us to go into.”

Blues are heading into their hectic schedule in high spirits – Saturday’s 1-0 win over Avro was their fifth league win in a row that sends them into Christmas in sixth place, just four points adrift of the promotion places.

In an end-to-end game packed with chances for both sides, in the end it was Freddie Potter’s penalty 15 minutes from time that decided the contest.

Having been brought down in the area by Alex Frost, striker Potter picked himself up to bury the spot kick despite Avro keeper Jordan Latham going the right way.

“A fantastic win – I thought the lads worked really hard,” McNabb said.

“I thought the quality was there throughout. We missed a few chances – I thought we could have had three but it’s good to see us causing problems defensively.

“I can’t believe it finished 1-0 given the amount of chances that both teams created.

“I thought we edged it. They were a strong side and they pushed us all the way.

“I thought Freddie did excellently holding the ball up, Kane (Drummond) was fantastic in possession but overall I think Warren Gerrard was probably the best player on the pitch today.

“That is not just for all he did on the ball but the tireless work he did off it. A really good all-round performance by him.”

Both of Rylands’ fixtures this weekend kick off at 3pm.