REPORT: UNITED 2-2 WARRINGTON RYLANDS

BY CALLUM WRIGHT

Prince Mancinelli scored on his debut as a frantic end of the game saw Basford produce an unlikely comeback against second-placed Warrington Rylands at Greenwich Avenue.

Momodou Touray opened the scoring in the dying seconds of the first half for Warrington, and Joe Adams’ doubler saw any result looking unlikely for the Ambers. But a goal from Mason Frizelle from a corner pumped life into the home side, and a brilliant strike from debutant Mancinelli completed the late turn around.

The away team started on the aggressive early and threatened to put Basford behind early, with Adamma Sidibeh pouncing on a rebound shot inside the box, but the quality of the Ambers’ number one Kieran Preston was on show already as he denied his close range effort well.

Minutes later, a chance at the other end as an inch perfect cross from Nathan Tyson found Remaye Campbell, but his resulting shot flew over the bar.

Basford continued to try and break down their opposition, with Mancinelli - putting pen-to-pape on Thursday, and returning captain Matthew Thornhill heavily involved, but it was Warrington’s top scorer Sidibeh who continued to be the game’s biggest threat, albeit without a dangerous chance that threatened Preston since the opening stages.

Mancinelli proved his defence capabilities after dispossessing the almost through-on-goal Sidibeh brilliantly. At the other end, Tyson threatened to break but was felled off the ball by Warrington debutant Liam Brockbank, who saw the game’s first booking.

Sidibeh almost took advantage of a defensive scramble at the edge of the box, but fluffed his lines with a weak shot which Preston dealt with comfortably.

The closest Basford came to opening the score was under unexpected circumstances, as a cross from Josh Barnes left Luke Pilling stranded in goal, eventually rattling the far post as nobody could get the final touch to tap it over as Warrington cleared.

As the game entered the final minute of the half, a sloppy back pass was pounced on by both Sidibeh and Preston, with the Warrington forward getting the crucial touch first before being brought down by the 'keeper.

Touray stepped up and sent Preston the wrong and Rylands lead at the break.

In the second period, Sidibeh continued with his pace proving difficult to deal with but Basford soon after had another chance, as skipper Thornhill soon came close to his first goal since returning from injury, but his header from a fantastic Henri Wilder cross flashed just wide.

Basford almost saw a chance against the run of play as a lack of Warrington communication almost saw Clive Smith put the ball in his own net, but it rolled wide for a corner.

The visitors’ promising attacking football yielded a second in 67th minute, as a brilliant set piece routine from a short corner saw an unanswered reverse pass meet Adams and his shot from a tight angle gave Preston little chance.

With 15 left on the clock, substitute Rev James was played in on the edge of the box by Thornhill’s long pass, but his volley couldn’t quite beat Pilling who stretched down low to save.

Hope seemed to rise for the home team for the chance to get one back, which eventually came in the 76th as Thornhill’s corner got lost in the sea of Blue defenders, and Frizelle did well to hold the ball, turn and fire the loose ball home into the far corner as the deficit was halved.

Man of the match Jack Thomas and James played good football down the right to set up Campbell, but his header was once again unsuccessful as Pilling saved. And that continued to spur United and the one to pierce the heart of the Blues was the debutant Mancinelli, who stuck from the edge of the area and into the far corner with nine minutes remaining.

And an almost disastrous scramble in the Warrington box saw a loose pass evade Pilling and present Campbell with an open net, but somehow he or no other Basford attackers could get the necessary connection to send Greenwich Avenue into raptures and both sides were made to settle for a point.

Next up, we travel up to the North Yorkshire seaside and Whitby Town on Saturday afternoon (3pm).

UNITED: Preston, Thomas, Wilder, Lewis, Frizelle, Fenton (c), Barnes, Thornhill (Ridgley 87’), Campbell, Mancinelli (Tomlin 90’), Tyson (James 64’)
SUBS (not used): Saane, Goddard

ATT: 295