AFTER a promising start to their league campaign, focus switches to the FA Cup for Warrington Rylands this weekend.
And manager Michael Clegg is hopeful that, having had time to nurse some of his players back to fitness, he will have a full squad to choose from for the first qualifying round tie against Stockton Town at Gorsey Lane tomorrow.
Blues took four points from a possible six over the Bank Holiday weekend to end the season’s first calendar month in the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-off spots.
They sit fifth in the table following Monday’s 1-1 draw at Macclesfield – a game in which Dean Furman’s goal nine minutes into injury time snatched a point.
That followed a 2-0 home win over Morpeth Town 48 hours earlier, which was their second home victory in the space of a week.
Warrington Rylands switch focus to the FA Cup this weekend after a promising start to their Northern Premier League season (Image: Mark Percy)
With goalkeeper Luke Pilling and defenders Matt Regan and Sam Egerton struggling with injuries, however, Clegg is hopeful a period of rest will help them back to full fitness.
“We’ll try and get a few patched up,” he said.
“Reegs has been struggling, Sam Egerton and Luke Pilling have been struggling. It’s been tough and we’re no different to anybody else.
“In that first little sprint to start the season, you just hope you get through it with a few points on the board and not so many injuries.
“We can patch a few up this week and hopefully get a full squad available for the FA Cup game on Saturday. It’s a competition we want to do really well in.”
Rylands’ opponents this weekend ply their trade one division below them but have made a positive start in the NPL’s East Division, including wins in their past three matches without conceding a goal.
NEXT UP....
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) August 29, 2023
The blues are next in action on Saturday as we welcome @stockton_townfc to Gorsey Lane for a 3pm kick-off in the first qualifying round of this season's @EmiratesFACup.
Adults £10
Concessions £7
U16s £2
PLEASE NOTE SEASON TICKETS CANNOT BE USED FOR THIS FIXTURE pic.twitter.com/d4JfPo91x2
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