Any feel good factor generated by Leek Town’s first home victory over Blyth Spartans on Saturday came to an end on Tuesday night when they failed to follow it up with a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Warrington Rylands; a result that lifted their opponents off the foot of the league.

It was especially disappointing as the Blues, in a theme of their season so far, conceded a poor goal in a closely fought game and then struggled to break down a hard working and well organised team.

The perfect scoring opportunity was also squandered as Adam Porters penalty was well saved by visiting goalkeeper Luke Pilling, who also earned his side the three points with a good save from Tyreece Onyeka’s curling effort deep into stoppage time.

With Liam Edwards injured and Joe Woolley unavailable Leek started the game with two changes from Saturday, and lined up with a new central defensive partnership with Nathan Okome alongside Scott Butler, signed on loan from Marine.

Another new and permanent signing Hayden Campbell, from Rushall Olympic, took a seat on the bench.

The watching 421 spectators witnessed yet another game at the F Ball Community Stadium where there was little to choose between the two sides with both defences coping admirably against each others respective forward lines. The first half was a scrappy affair with Rylands enjoying the majority of possession and there was little to entertain the crowd with each keeper only being forced into one save each. Dino Visser palmed over a fine first time effort from Ryland’s N’tumba Massanka on 16mins whilst Porter’s free kick for the Blues was straight into the arms of Pilling just before the break.

LEEK TOWN 0 - WARRINGTON RYLANDS 0 HT

Warrington took the lead at the beginning of the second half on 47mins with an ugly looking goal from a Leek perspective. From a break down the left a low cross was delivered into the penalty area that Visser pushed away but only into the central area of the box. Ben Hardcastle was first to the rebound and prodded the ball unconvincingly goalwards where a covering but unbalanced Olly Heywood was unable to get his feet right and somehow the ball ended up in the net.

There was still plenty of time for the Blues to get back into the game but Rylands also now had the motivation and something to defend and their workrate and shape was outstanding as they constantly closed down a Blues shirt to force a sideways or backwards pass.

They also showed they were well versed in time wasting and quelling any momentum from their opponents with well orchestrated injuries breaking up play, and Pilling ensuring he took long drinks from his water bottle before restarting play from goal kicks.

But Leeks own cause was not helped by their inability to move the ball quickly enough to stretch the Rylands defence and their only threats came from set pieces as they won a number of corners but even these were comfortably dealt with by the visitors.

However, on 73mins, Leek were handed (literally) a way back into the game when a cross from Tom Curl was handled by a defender and the referee was well placed to award the penalty. Porter struck his spot kick low to Pillings right but saw the keeper get down low to push the ball round the post for an important save for his side.

As Leek continued to push on looking for the equaliser it was natural that they would be susceptible to the counter-attack and Rylands substitute Jake Daniels had two good chances to double the lead on the break. First of all he wasted a two on one situation on 85mins as he decided to take it on himself rather than find his unmarked team mate and was forced by some good defending by last man Okome to blaze over the bar whilst, on 89 mins, he did a lot better and forced Visser into a good save, having to palm the ball round the post.

By this time Leek had thrown on forwards Brendan Daniels and Tyreece Onyeka and the latter substitute nearly rescued a point for the home side in the last minute of the five that were added on. Receiving the ball just inside the left edge of the area he dropped a shoulder to cut inside and curled an effort towards the far post. However Pilling had read his intentions and was able to leap to his left to get a hand on the effort to push it wide

LEEK TOWN 0 - WARRINGTON RYLANDS 1 FT

The Blues travel to Whitby Town on Saturday and will look to continue their good away form as the NPL Premier Division continues unabated.

REPORT FROM WINNERS LAD

Match Photos courtesy of Jim Booth HERE