Warrington Rylands 1 Atherton Collieries 1, match report

And in surrendering the lead to draw 1-1 at home with struggling Atherton Collieries, manager Michael Clegg opined that his side “let everybody down.”

With leaders Radcliffe, whom Rylands beat 3-2 last weekend, having fallen to defeat at Hyde United, a victory would have moved Blues level on points at the summit on an afternoon in which none of the current top five won.

However, Enoch Luisiama’s goal 11 minutes from time allowed Colls to leave Warrington with a point after Ben Hardcastle had given Rylands an early lead.

Ben Hardcastle scores Rylands' early opener (Image: Mark Percy)

Post-match, Clegg was far from happy with what he saw.

“We were poor,” he said.

“We started well and got the goal, but it was a game that lacked quality and intensity.

“They did really well, but we gifted them a goal and the changing room is absolutely wild about it. It was boys stuff – we were poor today but it should have been a 1-0 win and away we go.

“To gift a team a goal with 10 minutes to go at home when you’re flying like we are is unforgivable really.

“All the lads were charged up again today, so there’s no excuses. We hadn’t planned for Mo (Touray) pulling up in the warm-up, but it is what it is.

“You can draw games in this league – we had the performance last week but we just felt flat today.

“Fair dos to them – they played well, they passed it well and a point is definitely a fair result.

“None of the top five won, so it was the perfect opportunity to go level on points with Radcliffe but I felt the lads have let everybody down today.”

Rylands now face two promotion rivals over the festive period – they travel to Marine on Boxing Day before hosting Macclesfield on New Year’s Day.

Warrington Rylands: Pilling, Smith, Swaby-Neavin, Butler, Regan, Furman, Hardcastle, Hough (Neild), Pedro (Baillie), Adams (Uche), Sidibeh. Subs not used: Touray, Hurst