WARRINGTON Rylands continued building up to their debut season in the Northern Premier League by welcoming Coventry City under 23s – a professional development league team – to Gorsey Lane on a hot sunny Saturday afternoon.

The young Sky Blues, mainly wearing squad numbers in the 30s and 40s, offered a different style of play to that Rylands will face on a weekly basis in league football.

The home side started the stronger with Ste Milne and Kane Drummond both testing the Coventry keeper in the opening exchanges.

As the half progressed, the Coventry youngsters grew into the game and created chances of their own.

The visitors took the lead in the 38th minute when a cross whipped into Rylands penalty area from the left wing took a deflection in a packed box before nestling in the back of the net.

Rylands ended the half on top, with Lee Knight drawing a fine save from the keeper and Mike Simpson firing a shot just over the bar from the edge of the area.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with both sides creating chances in a game which was played with regular drinks breaks to combat the heat and kept the crowd entertained.

Jack Tinning and Kyle Sambor had Rylands’ best opportunities but both their efforts cleared the bar while Rylands’ second-half trialist keeper had to react quickly to keep out a sliced clearance from a team mate.

Rylands pushed forward in search of an equaliser without luck until, with barely a minute left on the clock, a Coventry defender is adjudged to have handled the ball in the six yard box.

Callum Dolan sent the keeper the wrong way with his spot kick to level the scores at 1-1.

Rylands players who took part in the game – Graeme McCall, Jack Tinning, Joe Denman, Gary Kenny, Rick Smith, Abdul Djalo, Elliot Morris, Andy Scarisbrick, Ste Milne, Callum Dolan, Joe Coveney, Warren Gerrard, Callum Lees, Lee Knight. Kyle Sambor, Kane Drummond, Mike Simpson, Charlie Doyle and a trialist goalkeeper.