Alport 3 Bacup Borough 0
 
Alport clawed back three very valuable points on the top two on Saturday with a convincing win over Bacup Borough at Yockings Park. Skipper Si Everall added another two goals to his season’s tally and PJ Hudson was also on the scoresheet on his full debut for the Reds. It was a highly dominant display by Whitchurch who now sit in third place with just 10 games remaining. But with two games in hand on leaders Litherland REMYCA – who come to Yockings Park on Easter Monday – and just three points behind, it’s very much in Alport’s hands. They trail second placed City of Liverpool by a point but also have the luxury of an extra game to play.
 
Throughout Saturday’s game, Bacup didn’t trouble Danny Read once and although two of the Reds goals came in the closing stages, the result never looked in doubt.  Some of the football played on a difficult surface was excellent and with four teenagers in their starting line-up, it emphasised the policy of managers Luke Goddard and Carl Everall to put their faith in youth. The Reds bench carried an abundance of talent and the strength in depth should help them in their quest to go right to the wire if needs be.
 
Matty Ashbrook’s penetrating run after 20 minutes brought the first save of the match from Josh Harris but Everall put Alport in front midway through the first half with a right foot shot that found the bottom corner - and that eased the tension amongst the 206 home supporters. But the nearest the Yockings side came to adding to that one goal lead came when Ashbrook saw his shot clatter the post with Harris well beaten.
 
After the break the pattern was the same with Alport pressing hard and Bacup unable to get behind Goddard’s superbly marshalled back four. The only criticism that could be levelled at the home side was that their finishing was more often than not wayward. But with five attack minded players amongst their numbers, the Reds are always going to create chances. New boy Luke Walley – who had a fine debut – saw his header cleared off the line 10 minutes from the end but with 88 minutes on the watch, some quick thinking at a free kick saw Everall skip into the area and pick out the far corner. That settled any lingering nerves and when PJ Hudson rifled a fine third in stoppage time, it gave Alport back-to-back wins for the first time this year. With basement boys Ashton Town next up, if Whitchurch can find top gear it could be a very difficult afternoon for a side looking right down the barrels of a relegation campaign.