In a season where Kidsgrove have blown hot and cold, they blew yet another cold as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at Northern Premier League new boys Warrington Rylands.
Kidsgrove were condemned to their 6th league defeat of the season thanks to second half goals from Declan Walker, Kane Drummond and Callum Dolan.
The Grove have had another busy week off the pitch as defender Kyle Stubbs and fans favourite Kyle Diskin have departed the club. However, manager Scott Dundas made just one change from the defeat against Marine as Oliver Hickman was replaced by captain Anthony Malbon for just his second league start of the season.
It was goalless at the break but, Kidsgrove were lucky for the score to be 0-0 as Rylands wasted three good chances to open the scoring.
The first one came after just 10 minutes of play when Drummond raced forward before squaring the ball to Owen Robinson, only for the forward to fire the ball well over Kieran Harrison’s goal. He would then have a second chance to score just seven minutes later when the ball fell to him inside the area, but, once again Robinson sent the effort over Harrison’s crossbar.
Last season’s FA Vase winners were left scratching their heads as to how they hadn’t scored on 27 minutes when former Rochdale and Bolton Wanderers man Joe Bunney was able to head goalwards from a corner. It beat Harrison but, thankfully for Kidsgrove Alex Morris was able to hook the ball off the line.
Kieran Brown had two chances towards the end of the first half for Kidsgrove but, the efforts were straight at Ryland’s keeper Graeme McCall who comfortably dealt with them.
After the interval, Kidsgrove did try to step it up a gear with Brown firing just wide of the post when he went one on one with McCall. While Jake Twyford and Malbon put chances over the crossbar as they looked for the opening goal of the game.
Meanwhile, at the other end, Harrison had to be alert to deny the impressive Drummond who had broken clear of the Kidsgrove defence.
However, Kidsgrove’s defensive frailties that have plagued them all season once again reared its ugly head on 61 minutes, when a Walker free-kick evaded everyone and bounced into the far corner of the goal.
It was 2-0 on 74 minutes when a lovely ball from the midfield found Drummond. He raced away from the Kidsgrove defence before sliding the ball past the onrushing Harrison. That goal was the final act for Drummond as he was brought off straight after the goal to a standing ovation by Rylands.
Dolan ensured all three points were staying in Warrington on 82 minutes when he twisted and turned past Bergin and Whieldon before rolling the ball past Harrison to make it 3-0 and add a bit of comfort to the scoreline.
Warrington could have made the result even more emphatic in the final minute of injury time when Andy Scarisbrick found Walker in the penalty area. However, the man who opened the scoring saw his shot blocked by Bergin.
Kidsgrove will be hoping to bounce back quickly as they face another tough test, this time against Mossley next Saturday.
Warrington Rylands: McCall, Walker, Bunney, Smith, Egerton, Denman, Earl (Scarisbrick, 83), Coveney, Dolan, Robinson (Gerrard, 68) and Drummond (Milne, 75).
Unused subs: Tinning and Morris.
Kidsgrove Athletic: Harrison, Twyford, Morris, Lovatt (Hickman, 74), Bergin, Whieldon, Adu-Gyamfi, Blake, Brown, Malbon and Johnston.
Unused subs: Byers, Bromfield, J.Lovatt and R.Brown.
Attendance: 202
