We’re back on the road to Wembley in the FA Vase
WARRINGTON Rylands created club history as they claimed a quarter-final spot for the first time thanks to keeper Graeme McCall’s penalty shoot-out heroics.
Paul Shanley had put the North West Counties League side ahead in the second-half before an unfortunate Joe Denman own goal got West Auckland back on terms.
The visitors were reinstated into the Vase in the week following North Ferriby’s removal for fielding an ineligible player last weekend.
But their second chance slipped by as Rylands kept their cool in the shoot-out to leave proud boss David McNabb hailing his players.
“I thought it was a really good performance, this group of players never give up and they fully deserve their place in club history,” he said. “We did make it hard for ourselves on occasion by choosing the wrong pass and missing chances, but all in all we got what we deserved.”
The home side had dominated the first half with striker Elliott Nevitt giving the visiting defence a torrid time. The big striker had showed his intent as early as the second minute, driving through only to be denied by a fingertip save by visiting keeper Decklan Greenwood.
Greenwood again kept his side in the game minutes later with a double save from Nevitt, firstly saving at full stretch to tip away the striker’s initial effort and then quick to his feet to deny Nevitt’s follow up shot, palming a certain goal over the bar.
With the home side firmly on top, defender Rick Smith almost gave his side the lead with a powerful header from a corner, only for his effort to be cleared off the line.
Nevitt missed a great chance to take his side into the break in front, his header from Sam Sheen’s cross clearing the bar with Greenwood beaten.
Finally, they got the goal their efforts deserved on the hour mark. Nevitt won another tussle on the right, feeding the ever-willing Andy Scarisbrick who squared to Shanley to sidefoot home.
Jack Tinning, Charlie Doyle and Scarisbrick all came close to extending the lead before the visitors equalised out of nothing.
From their first corner of the game, substitute Dennis Knight crossed into a crowded area, the ball appearing to strike home defender Denman before crossing the line.
Both sides had chances to claim the win before the final whistle brought about a dramatic penalty shoot-out to decide the victors.
McCall saved from Tony Bell and Joe Coveney put the home side in front before Knight fired wide.
Nevitt finally then scored to set-up McCall to be the hero for the second round in succession as he denied Aaron Thompson.
West boss Gary Forrest said: “It wasn’t to be for us today, we lost key players to injury at key points and never really gained a foothold.”