Whitchurch Alport 1 (1) v Sandbach Utd 1 (1)
Alport made three changes to the starting X1 from last weekend’s impressive victory at Charnock Richard as goalkeeper Danny Read returned from holiday, Ryan Thomas came in for the ill Ant Tinsley and Jordan Elcock replaced hat trick hero Dan Tinsley who enjoys a holiday himself in Mexico!
The home supporters watched their usual solid defence make the worst possible start after only two minutes. Everall, Ledwards and Goddard all failed to clear the ball with the latter stumbling giving Danny Bartle an open opportunity to slot home from 12yds past Read. This goal led to a stuttering start from Alport who failed to gain any fluency as the visitors worked hard in stopping the home side from playing. Throughout the opening twenty minutes both sides in truth struggled to play any of their familiar football that has seen them gain respectable league positions. Eventually it began to click for Whitchurch in patches and chances fell for Blundell who fired over, Thomas was the next to miss with a header from a free kick. Sandbach looked a threat on the break especially on the right hand side through Josh Lane. However neither keeper was tested during the first half and just the one mistake separated the sides at the break. HT 0-1
A half time team talk definitely inspired Alport who came out looking a different side with more of a purpose and tempo in their game. Skipper Simon Everall was proving a handful for the Sandbach defence working the channels tremendously well as the home team looked to apply more pressure. It was Everall who then created the opening goal, played through down the left hand side he cleverly nutmegged  the defender before squaring the ball to Blundell who tapped into the goal past goalkeeper Grant. It was now all Whitchurch, controlling the game as Sandbach sat deep hoping to hold onto a decent draw away from home with the possibility of a goal on the counter attack. Despite having most of the ball and getting in good positions in the final third something was still amiss for Alport in testing the goalkeeper, much like the FA Vase game during their last home game. From another Blundell free kick Everall went close with a header that narrowly went wide. A penalty shout for both sides in the closing ten minutes got dismissed by the referee as the game became stretched with Alport pushing for a winner, this gave the visitors space on the reverse and Pearson made several good runs from full back for Sandbach but again keeper Read wasn’t called into action even when the visitors did attack. It was definitely the most direct we’ve seen this Whitchurch side play as their usual slick passing game failed to materialise except in small periods throughout the game. They will still be disappointed that all three points weren’t gained as the game fizzled out with the sides sharing the spoils and with that both drawing their first game of the season. FT 1-1
 
Team: Read, Marley, Thomas, Goddard, Ledwards, Blundell, Everall C, Twigg, Elcock, Hughes, Everall S (c) Subs: McNichol, Minshall, Coles, Tinsley A, Maclennan