WAS this the biggest result in Warrington Rylands’ history?

Victory over a higher-ranked club at a sold-out Gorsey Lane to advance in the FA Cup? A case can certainly be made for it.

The first qualifying round awaits for Blues after Northern Premier League side Clitheroe were beaten yesterday.

New striker Ste Milne is certainly enjoying the competition as the winning goal took him to four strikes in two outings after his hat-trick helped blow 1874 Northwich away in the extra preliminary round.

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Ste Milne strikes the winner for Warrington Rylands. Picture by Mark Percy

Now, all eyes will be on tomorrow’s draw and there is even the tantalising prospect of a clash with neighbours Warrington Town.

“We’ll take anyone but we’d love another home tie as the place was bouncing,” match-winner Milne said after his quality turn and shot beat the Clitheroe keeper at his near post.

“I didn’t really have many chances, but it was lucky I got one and that it went in.

“The first half was very tight – I don’t think either team had many chances.

“It opened up a bit in the second half but luckily, I managed to get in front of the defender and put it in the net.

“We knew they were a big physical team coming into the game so we wanted to try and get down the side of them and not give anything away.

“FA Cup ties are always tight but we were worth the win I thought.

“The hat-trick can’t be topped really but I’m made up to get the winner in this one.”

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Ste Milne celebrates his winning goal. Picture by Mark Percy

Even though Blues’ task of hanging on was made theoretically easier when Clitheroe’s Ollie Muir was shown a straight red card for an alleged stamp, things were still fraught until the final whistle.

Then, the celebrations could really begin.

When asked whether the win was the best in the club’s history, manager Dave McNabb said: “I think it probably is.

“It was a fantastic win. It can be difficult when you go 1-0 up and you’re trying to hang onto a lead like that.

“Even when they went down to 10 men, we were trying to hang on and see it out.

“Every second felt like an hour, but the lads deserve all the credit.

“They worked really hard, showed glimpses of our quality and deserved the win in the end.

“The group of lads we’ve got here at the moment have a massive hunger to do well and improve.

“As long as they stick together, its frightening how far they can go.

“It’s difficult watching games like that from the bench but the lads who came on changed the game and calmed us.

“Even those who didn’t get on were running around celebrating at the end – that show’s what we’ve got.”

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Action from Blues' win over Clitheroe. Pictures by Mark Percy