Resurgent Rylands return home for clash of in-form sides
FEBRUARY may be the shortest month of the year, but it will be an incredibly busy one for Warrington Rylands.
Starting with Matlock Town’s visit to Gorsey Lane on Saturday, Neil Reynolds’ side will play seven Northern Premier League Premier Division games in just 21 days.
Given the form they are at the moment, however, they will no doubt be desperate to get back on the pitch at every possible opportunity.
A 4-0 win at Bamber Bridge last time out stretched their unbeaten league run to nine matches, and it is now more than two months since they last tasted defeat in the NPL.
Indeed, the only team to beat them in that time are National League North high-flyers Chorley, who edged Blues out 3-2 in an FA Trophy tie in early-December.
That run has allowed Reynolds’ men to pull clear of the relegation zone and storm into the top half of the NPL Premier Division table – they go into the weekend sitting 11th on 34 points, seven clear of the bottom four.
A welcome return home as Gladiators visit
Rylands will be grateful of a return to home soil, with tomorrow’s game a sole outlier in a run of six away games out of seven.
The short trip to Prescot Cables follows on Tuesday night before visits to Stockton Town (February 8) and Gainsborough Trinity (February 11) but first, they face a Matlock side who have been on a similar journey to themselves.
When the two sides met in Derbyshire back in October – a game that finished 1-1 – they were both in relegation danger. Rylands were 20th with just 10 points to their name while Matlock were three points and two places better off.
Like the men from WA2, however, the Gladiators have turned things around dramatically since then.
Across the past 10 league games, only the division’s current top three – Macclesfield, Guiseley and Ashton United – have garnered more points than Matlock’s 19. In the same period, Rylands are just worse off having taken 17 points.
Saturday’s visitors are one point and two places behind Blues as part of a tightly-packed table which sees 10 sides – from Hyde United in ninth to Leek Town in 18th – separated by just four points.
Rylands have confirmed their "Matchdeal" offer will be in place for Saturday's game, with adults getting entry to the game, a pint of lager and a burger/hot dog for £15.
For £5, under 16s will get entry to the game, a burger/hot dog and a soft drink.
The offer can be redeemed at the turnstiles upon arrival at Gorsey Lane.
