The man in red-hot form for Warrington Rylands as Scunthorpe trip looms

SINCE arriving at Warrington Rylands last summer, Ben Hardcastle has been a key player for whomever has been in charge.

However, a switch of position under Neil Reynolds seems to have unlocked more goal-scoring potential from the midfielder.

His winning two-goal salvo against Blyth Spartans on Saturday means that, in the current run of four consecutive wins, Hardcastle has struck six times to make him the club’s joint-top goalscorer this season alongside striker Ntumba Massanka.

Hardcastle has tended to play from the right wing since moving to Gorsey Lane, but a move to a more central role has given him “freedom and joy” according to his manager.

And with a tough-looking FA Trophy trip to National League North giants Scunthorpe United on the horizon on Saturday, Reynolds will no doubt be hoping for another virtuoso display from his man in form.

“I don’t like singling people out, but he’s scored six in four now,” Reynolds said.

“He’s had a real resurgence since we’ve shifted him into a “number eight” position from the right-hand side.

“He’s getting real freedom and joy but he’s also got the know-how to go and cover that right side.

“Goals are flying in for him and if we’ve got an “eight” in Ben Hardcastle who’s scoring the goals he is, it’s brilliant.”

With the weekend’s 2-1 victory over Blyth having moved them out of the Northern Premier League Premier Division relegation zone, the Blues boss says they can now approach Saturday’s Trophy tie in a more relaxed mood.

And while they will be considerable underdogs when travelling to an Iron side who are second in the division above, Reynolds insists they are not going to Glanford Park to “make up the numbers.”

“We can put the league to bed for a bit now,” he said.

“Our objective was to get out of the relegation zone so we could go to work on Tuesday and Thursday to prepare for a mouth-watering tie at Scunthorpe without worrying about the league.

“I want to take as many fans as possible to Scunthorpe as it’s going to be a great day, but we’re certainly not going there to make up the numbers as we deserve our place in the hat.”

Rylands will be back in Lincolnshire on Tuesday night as their NPL campaign resumes with a trip to Gainsborough Trinity.