TOON ACE LEE BACKS OLD PAL STIMSON AND RYLANDS ROAR ON INTO THE SEMIS
Holders Hebburn humbled
ELLIOTT Nevitt’s goal on the hour was enough to finally beat current FA Vase holders Hebburn Town and send Warrington Rylands into their first ever semi-final.
Nevitt’s fine 62nd-minute strike was enough to end the five-day defence of the 201920 title which the Hornets clinched in a dramtic finale against Consett at Wembley on Monday.
Boss Kevin Bolam was magnanimous in defeat. “To a man the effort was fantastic,” he said after a whirlwind week.
“We have come up against a determined and dogged side and credit to them because they hurt us at important times in the game and with a game as tight as that, there was really only going to be one goal in it. I hope they go on and win it now.”
Naturally, there was no-one happier than Rylands boss David McNabb, who now awaits the visit of Walsall Wood to Gorsey Lane on Saturday.
“What a performance,” he beamed. “We’ve just played the current holders who are up there as one of the best sides in the country at this level and, if I’m honest, I thought we were the better side all over the park. Full credit to Hebburn for the way they never stopped going and really made us work for the win.”
Hebburn started the better with Michael Richardson testing home keeper Graeme McCall and Michael firing just over McCall’s crossbar from a 20-yard free-kick.
Veteran striker Graeme Armstrong then looked to have opened the scoring for Hebburn on 20 minutes but his header from Richardson’s corner was cleared off the line with McCall beaten.
Warrington, however, came into the game. Andy Scarisbrick, Ste Milne and Paul Shanley all went close, while at the other end, Amar Purewal saw an effort locked by Gary Kenny.
The second half began with another error by the home defence, this time Purewal should have done better when through one-on-one with McCall after an error by Jack Tinning, his keeper making a big save to keep the scores level.
From then on the home side began to take control. Nevitt volleyed over when well placed, creating Milne space fired for himself wide after before Nevitt opened the scoring with a fine strike.
After neat interplay, the ball was swept out to Gerrard who clipped in a great cross which Nevitt controlled before turning to fire passed Mark Foden into the corner. Moments later, Scarisbrick played in Nevitt only for Foden to sprint off his line and smother at the striker’s feet.
And with the visitors throwing keeper Foden forward for a corner kick with seconds to go Scarisbrick made a superb goal-line clearance to ensure his side’s semi-final place.