By Warrington Rylands FC · 6 January 2025
Warrington Rylands Draw 2-2 Against Hebburn Town at The Hive Arena.
The first game of 2025 sees Rylands settle with a point.
This result now sees Rylands in 15th place, still with two games in hand.
The Blues were the clear dominant side in the first half of the match, with Alex Kiwomya getting a very early goal three minutes into the game.
Kiwomya received the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and struck it, which deflected into the back of the net, giving the Blues the opener.
However, The Hornets quickly bounced back when Joao Pedro Gomes Carrington nicked one in the 7th minute, getting the equaliser for the visitors.
After the goal, both sides gave valuable efforts in the first half, with one from Jake Daniels, who struck a 20-yard curler that just flew wide of the post in the 22nd minute.
And a thundering freekick from Hebburn Town which Luke Pilling heroically tipped over the bar.
It was after a brilliant build-up of attacking play for Rylands, George Waring struck a pass to Daniels, who again hit a beautifully curled shot, this time hitting the top right corner, setting The Hive Arena off in celebration.
After a collision in Rylands’ box, Hebburn were awarded a penalty, in which the Number 10, Olly Martin, stood tall and smashed it into the right-hand side of the net in the 41st minute.
The unlucky penalty decision for Rylands put a downer on the rest of the first half and the second half.
The uneventful second half only saw one chance from Jake Burton which was sent wide of the post.
Hebburn Town were happy enough to settle for the point away, meaning the first game of the year for Rylands ended in an all-square tie.
For his valuable efforts in the game, Harrison Hopper was awarded Man of the Match, in which Neil Reynolds said: “That’s definitely his best game in a Rylands shirt so far.”
Reynolds was also very optimistic about the performance of the whole team. He said: “It’s how far we’ve come. We are now getting a reputation for ourselves for being a good side.”
“It’s another game unbeaten, and it’s another point on the board. It’s another step in the right direction,” Reynolds said.
The Blues face Reno’s former side, FC United, on Tuesday, in which Rylands will look to return home with the three points to climb further up the table and gain full safety in the league.
“We will see what happens on Tuesday, but may the best team win,” Reno said.