Garry Clarke brings us the full story of Warrington Rylands' first league defeat of the season...

WARRINGTON Rylands surrendered their unbeaten NPL West record to City of Liverpool in a game which saw both sides reduced to 10 men.

Liverpool’s Louis Corrigan saw red in the 30th minute, with Warren Gerrard receiving his marching orders for two yellow cards in the closing stages of an entertaining game.

> Read the thoughts of Warrington Rylands manager Dave McNabb here

Rylands dominated the opening stages, forcing several corners and having several shots off target including an Adam Buxton free kick which just cleared the bar.

They also had a penalty claim waved away by referee David Croft, who failed to see Corrigan grab hold of Luke Wall’s shirt and drag him to the ground as he entered the penalty area.

The visitors then started to come more into the game and Rylands goalkeeper Graeme McCall was forced to save bravely at the feet of Ryan Gibson in the 15th minute.

Gibson was also denied a shooting opportunity with the goal at his mercy a few minutes later by a last-ditch Harry Molyneux tackle.

Former Rylands striker Freddie Potter opened the scoring in the 19th minute despite looking suspiciously offside when he met Ryan Gibson’s cross to score from close range.

Rylands found Liverpool goalkeeper Theo Roberts in top form as they looked for a way back into the game, with the Purples number one making several saves before he was finally beaten in the 29th minute.

A mazy Callum Dolan run was ended by a Jack Hinnigan tackle which caused the ball to run into the path of Ste Milne, who curled the ball into the net from outside the area.

On the half-hour mark, Corrigan was the first player to be dismissed – having already been booked for a foul on Dolan, he received a second yellow card for bringing down Charlie Doyle on the edge of the area.

From the resultant Molyneux free kick, Roberts pulled off another great save and Callum Lees headed the rebound over the bar. Roberts also saved well in the 40th minute to keep out a Wall shot.

The visitors regained the lead in the 41st minute when referee Croft pointed to the penalty spot after Potter had collided with Rick Smith. Nathan Burke sent McCall the wrong way with the spot kick.

The second half became a much scrappier affair as Rylands struggled to break down a resilient Liverpool team, who were content to defend and hit on the break.

After a few half chances for the home side, Liverpool scored their third goal in the 66th minute.

Clearing their lines with a long ball down field which evaded the Blues defence, Gibson raced away, drew McCall and slipped the ball across the face of goal for Jack Hazelhurst to tap in.

Rylands continued to attack but could not hit the target until the 89th minute when from a corner, debutant Lewis Earl bulleted a header past Roberts to give his side a lifeline.

As the game entered added time, Liverpool substitute Xenon Bahula took advantage of the extra space left at the back as Rylands committed more men forward to break away. McCall raced out to block his shot and the rebound fell to Bahula, whose second effort was blocked on the line by Mike Simpson.

Rylands: McCall, Lees (Simpson), Molyneux, Smith, Gerrard, Buxton (Lewis), Doyle, Hassall (Hughes), Milne, Dolan, Wall. Subs not used: Hilton, Scarisbrick