WHITCHURCH ALPORT 1 LITHERLAND REMYCA 2
 
Whitchurch Alport's eight-game unbeaten run in the Premier Division was halted on Saturday when arch rivals Litherland REMYCA won 2-1 at Yockings Park. Alport completely dominated the first half but their profligacy in front of goal was once again highlighted with the away side coming from a goal down to win a match that should have been beyond them by half-time. The Merseysiders have something of an Indian sign over the Reds. In seven league meetings between the two clubs, REMYCA have won five and drawn two with the latest victory a third in succession up Black Park Road. But really, Alport have only themselves to blame having failed to convert several decent openings to put the game to bed early doors.
 
The difference in class between the two sides was clear in the opening 45 with Whitchurch looking like a team that had been strengthened since winning promotion with Remy back in May. But you couldn't even say that the visitors rode their luck in this match, because the only reason they scarpered with the three points was that the home strikers didn't find the target often enough - giving Gerard Walker in goal an afternoon off in many ways. That's not to say that Litherland didn't have chances of their own with Warren Jeavons forcing a smart stop from Dave Parton after Remy had gone in front. At that point Whitchurch were a spent force looking like a rabbit in the headlights even with a one goal advantage. The away side could smell the fear in their opponents and stepped up the pressure and got their reward.
 
The tone was set as early as the third minute when Nick Marley sent over a precision cross but Sean Griffiths didn't trouble Walker who breathed a huge sigh of relief when the midfielder headed wide. 10 minutes later Griffiths picked out Joe Howell in a similar position but he too didn't work the keeper. Arron Johns went close later on in the half but Alport made the breakthrough early after the restart. It was a goal of real class when a move involving several players down the left flank was worked inside to Dan Skelton, whose clever run after a one-two opened up the space. He had loads of time to blast past Walker although the goalkeeper got a good amount of his glove onto the ball. With Alport in the ascendency, Alex Hughes failed to direct a free header on target and instead of its being two nil the game then started to ebb and flow somewhat. Parton turned over a superb Warren Jeavons free kick spectacularly before Nicky Porter just missed picking out two onrushing Alport players who would have had a tap in.
 
From that moment on, the game swung heavily in the visitors favour. With 21 minutes remaining and Alport's lead looking increasingly precarious and the team creaking under intense pressure, Ashton Clements crashed a great volley beyond Parton to bring Litherland level. And it was to get much worse for the home supporters when Jack Riley popped up in the box to win the match with just nine minutes left on the clock.