Alport 2 Shepshed Dynamo 3 (aet 90 mins score 2-2)
They say you don’t always get what you deserve in football and that was the case at Yockings Park on Saturday. The Reds hopes of reaching the next round of the Buildbase FA Vase were dashed with an extra time defeat against Shepshed Dynamo. This was the third game in a row that Whitchurch had been defeated by just a single goal, but in this game if Alport had taken their chances they would have seen their name in the hat for the next round draw.
In a first half that was largely bossed by the visiting side, it was the hosts who took the lead on the stroke of half time when a contentious penalty was awarded. There was no stopping Darren Campion who strode fully eighty yards to grab the ball. He put it on the spot and then calmly rolled it into the opposite corner to the goalkeepers dive.
At the start of the second half the away side quickly stated their intent. Sam Moore rattled the cross bar 4 minutes after the restart but 60 seconds later Shepshed levelled when the same player finally got his reward. Dynamo were swarming all over the Reds defensive third, so it came as no surprise when they took the lead just 3 minutes later. Zach Hill was allowed far too much room in the box to casually knock the ball past a helpless Dave Parton.
It looked like Alport were going to be on the wrong end of a hiding, but the introduction of wily campaigner Kevin Street, galvanised the Whitchurch midfield. This allowed Sean Griffiths to demonstrate his outstanding abilities to give Alport an unexpected route back into the game. With 19 minutes remaining, Clayton Mcdonald - signed the day before on dual registration forms from Nantwich town – smashed the ball home to square the tie once more.
The Reds were guilty of missing three glorious opportunities to put the tie to bed. Mcdonald somehow contrived to spoon the ball over the bar from no more than four yards out after Griffiths had put a dangerous low cross into the heart of the Shepshed goalmouth. In extra time the same player headed over unmarked when it looked easier to score. Then after Joe Howel looked to have been fouled in the penalty area, the referee waved play on when it looked like Simon Everall was certain to score at the far post, however the striker chose to take a touch but then could only find the outside of the post with the goal gaping.
Profligacy was to cost Luke Goddard’s men dearly. With nine minutes of the tie left, after a goalmouth scramble Jordan Smith knocked home the loose ball to knock the stuffing out of Alport and the bulk of the 182 crowd.