It was the home side that started the brighter of the two teams and from the right hand side of the penalty area, Alex Hughes got a shot away which rattled the top of the crossbar with Ellison in the visitors goal rooted to the spot with just five minutes on the clock. Alport continued to keep Congleton penned in their own half and it came as no surprise when the hosts took the lead 10 minutes before half-time. From a pinpoint Ivan Urvantev corner Skelts rose like a salmon – tin of not fresh – to bullet a header past a helpless Ellison. It was to get better for the Reds when a poor defensive clearance landed at the boot of Griffiths who dispatched his shot into the net to send the home supporters into raptures.

It was very nearly three nil on 54 minutes when for second time Alport hit the woodwork. Great work from Jimmy Garlick fed the ball out to Alex who once again curled in a wicked shot which clanged against the frame of the goal. A third at that stage would have likely killed off the game but it was the away side that pulled one back just minutes after Ethan Harrison had come onto the pitch as a late substitute. Congleton had their tails up and subjected the Reds to a defensive onslaught as they sought the equaliser which would have taken the game to penalties. Ellis Allen made some great saves between the posts for Alport and could have been one of many contenders for the man of the match award but it went to Jimmy who covered every blade of grass and still had plenty left in the tank to go another 90 minutes! This turned out to be one of Luke’s finest wins during his six-year tenure at the club but everyone connected with Whitchurch Alport should be rightfully proud of putting the town of Whitchurch on the National map!