WARRINGTON Rylands’ revengeful win at Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday afternoon was swayed by a four-minute spell.
With the Northern Premier League Premier Division contest all square going into the final 10 minutes, Blues keeper Luke Pilling saved a penalty to keep the scores at 1-1.
And then Warrington-born defender James Baillie scored what proved to be the winning goal with a magnificent header in the 83rd minute.
That completed a fine comeback for the visitors for the second game in a row having also turned around a half-time deficit to beat FC United of Manchester in midweek.
Jake Daniels gave the relegation-threatened hosts the lead just shy of the half-hour mark, but Mo Touray levelled matters again in the 68th minute to set up a tense and exciting finale before Baillie's late winner gave Blues the outcome joint player-caretaker manager Sam Wilson insists they deserved.
"It was very similar to Tuesday but I actually thought we were better in the first half today," he said.
"We were quite dominant but our final pass and execution let us down a little bit. We could have had two or three in the first half but it wasn’t to be.
"We had to come from behind but I don’t ever doubt this group when their backs are against the wall.
"They’re so resilient and together, so the outcome doesn’t surprise me – we really got what we deserved."
It is a victory which keeps Rylands firmly in the play-offs places in third with eight games to go, on the same number of points but one rung below Hyde United, who were 1-0 winners at Workington.
Blues are the only remaining team in English football’s top seven tiers with an unbeaten away record this season, but they now turn their attentions back to home soil and the visit of Bamber Bridge on Saturday.
And Wilson says they cannot pay much attention to the league table as they prepare to face last season's beaten play-off finalists, who have found this season more of a struggle as they sit in 15th.
"They’re a really good side that play a similar style to Bradford – they’re good on the ball and have some really bright players," he said.
"They’ve got a fantastic manager as well, so it will be a really tough game.
"We can’t really take the league table into account at this stage of the season.
"Whatever position they’re in, every team is playing for something whether they’re in the relegation zone or up near the top two or three. Everyone is going to give you a tough game.
"We upset a lot of teams at this stage last season when we weren’t really playing for anything.
"It’s going to be tough but we’re relishing and looking forward to it."
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