DESPITE slipping to a home defeat this afternoon, Jody Banim declared himself pleased with the performance his Warrington Rylands side put in against high-flying Matlock Town.

Indeed, he believes Blues “created enough chances to win two games” as the visitors came from behind to ensure the hosts slipped to back-to-back losses.

Callum Dolan gave Rylands a perfect start in their first home game in nearly three weeks as he scored from the penalty spot after just 10 minutes.

However, John Johnstone struck the Gladiators’ winner six minutes from time after Bartozs Cybulski had equalised before the break.

Banim was pleased with the improvement in his side’s step-up in performance from Tuesday’s reverse at Lancaster City but bemoaned the “poor goals” they conceded.

“I thought we shaded it for possession and chances created, to be honest,” he said.

“I’m really pleased with the overall performance but we’ve conceded two poor goals again, which is not great and we need to work on it.

“We were a world away from our performance on Tuesday night so I’m pleased overall.

“We’ve created enough chances to win two games but it just wouldn’t fall for us inside the box and then their lad mishits it into the ground and it ends up going in.

“It just wasn’t our day unfortunately, but lots to be pleased with and proud of.”

Read Garry Clarke's full match report below

 

LOSING 2-1 for the second time in a week, Warrington Rylands extended their run without a league to five games as Matlock Town completed a league double over them on a cold, wet and windy afternoon when winter arrived at Gorsey Lane.

Rylands had taken the lead in the 10th minute and for long periods of the game were the better side, but Matlock came from behind and John Johnston’s strike in the 84th minute sealed the win, but the Gladiators were indebted to goalkeeper Jim Pollard, whose outstanding display enabled them to take the points home.

However, Pollard’s day had not got off to a good start – booked in the 10th minute when he brought down Kane Drummond to concede a penalty.

Former Matlock man Callum Dolan blasted his spot kick high into the roof of the net to open the scoring.

Matlock debutant Bartosz Cybulski – on loan from Derby – headed wide from a Johnston cross in the 24th minute but he marked his birthday 10 minutes later with a goal, heading the equaliser from an Alex Byrne cross.

Pollard pulled off a couple of good saves before the break to deny Drummond and Dean Furman, while Alex Wiles fired a shot across the face of Rylands’ goal.

Harry Pratt had a shot blocked and Dolan was inches wide with a shot as was Jak McCourt in the dying minutes of the first half.

Rylands started the second half on the attack with Dolan setting up Dylan Vassallo, but the on-loan debutant’s shot from the edge of the area cleared the crossbar.

Pollard twice pulled off top-quality saves to keep out shots from Dolan while Rylands goalkeeper Joel Torrence made a flying save to tip a Byrne corner over the bar.

Pollard made another top-quality save, reacting quickly to deny Vassallo from close range as he deflected a Dolan cross goalwards.

The game’s decisive moment arrived in the 84th minute – Rylands failed to clear a corner and the ball dropped to Johnston on the edge of the penalty area. His shot into the ground bounced and looped out of Torrence’s reach into the net.

Rylands: Torrence, Neild, Hunt, Mustoe, Egerton, McCourt, Dolan, Furman (Cooke), Pratt (N’Mai) Vassallo, Drummond. Subs not used: Hayde, Irwin, Payne