Midfielder plays in goal for Warrington Rylands

Before kick off in last night’s derby game, Warrington Rylands’ preparations were plunged into serious adversity.

On-loan goalkeeper Sam Tickle was recalled by parent club Wigan Athletic and with understudy Will Appleyard out injured, it left Blues without a recognised goalkeeper for their trip to Warrington Town.

They did find one and attempted to register Wigan’s Owen Mooney on an emergency loan, but the paperwork was filed two minutes after the registration deadline of 3.45pm and as such, they were forced to play the game with midfielder Steve Irwin in goal.

As it happens, the outfield players looked on course to guide Rylands to a famous win only for Town to snatch an injury-time equaliser thanks to James Neild’s own goal.

> Town 3 Rylands 3 - verdict and reaction to a thrilling Warrington derby

After the game, Blues caretaker manager Jody Banim hit out at the Northern Premier League for showing “a lack of common sense” but hailed his beleaguered side’s display at Cantilever Park.

“Sam Tickle got called back at 2.30 in the afternoon, which gave us next to no chance to get somebody else in,” he said.

“We actually managed it but we were two minutes too late according to the NPL.

“This is a flagship game for them – why wouldn’t they use some common sense and let us use a recognised goalkeeper?

“It could have ruined the whole thing.

“Luckily for us, we had a good performance – we stopped shots and none of the goals we conceded were preventable from Steve Irwin’s perspective.

Steve Irwin is put under pressure. Picture by Lewis Tate (Image: Lewis Tate)

“He’s done really well for us but from a common-sense perspective – for the sake of two minutes, they could have allowed us to register a goalkeeper.

“Jordan Mustoe played at centre back but was ill and shouldn’t have played.

“Dean Furman is observing a Jewish holiday and has been fasting for 25 hours – he didn’t really think he could play before the game so hats off to him.”

Despite the adversity, Rylands dominated their neighbours in the first half and Callum Dolan’s quickfire double had them 2-0 up at half time.

Callum Dolan slots home his and Rylands' second goal. Picture by Mark Percy (Image: Mark Percy)

Town improved after the break and pulled a goal back through Stefan Mols, but Kane Drummond quickly restored the two-goal cushion only for the hosts to fight back in the dying stages.

Luke Duffy reduced the deficit before Neild was unfortunate to turn Mitch Duggan’s cross into his own net moments after Bohan Dixon had been sent off for the hosts.

“We had a good chat before the game and in adversity comes great strength sometimes and I think we showed that tonight,” Banim said.

“The lads have run themselves into the ground. I thought we were very good in the first half and deservedly went two goals up.

“Credit to Warrington – they reacted at half time having made a couple of subs and they were a little bit busier than us in the second half.

“We didn’t show any composure in possession and we weren’t playing long enough at times to get us up the pitch.

“The last minute is criminal from us. They go down to 10 men, we turn the ball over and they transfer it up the field. How they’ve managed to get a two-on-one down our left, I don’t know.

“That’s the disappointing aspect but these are elements we can improve on.

“It’s a good group of lads in there and they’ve run through brick walls to try and get three points.

“If you’d have asked me at 7pm if I’d have taken a point, I’d have snatched your hand off!”

Rylands were set to go top of the Northern Premier League Premier Division table before Town's late equaliser but such is the tight nature of the division, they finished the evening in eighth position.

Attention now turns to the FA Trophy for Rylands on Saturday as they travel across Cheshire to take on Nantwich Town.