Whitchurch Alport 2 FC Oswestry Town 0
For the second time this season, it was Whitchurch Alport who took the Shropshire derby bragging rights after a 2-0 win in front of a bumper Yockings Park crowd on Boxing Day. A depleted Oswestry Town side competed well against the league leaders despite falling behind to an early goal when defender Ryan Thomas turned home a Simon Everall assist from close range after just 11 minutes. But the hosts had to wait until four minutes from time for the goal that put the game beyond Oswestry’s reach. It came from a set piece with Alport’s top scorer Mike Blundell powering a free-kick past Richard Cowderoy to the delight of another mammoth 345 crowd at Yockings. At times, Town were pegged back and were more than happy to soak up the pressure from an in-form home team who continue to set the pace at the top of the North West Counties First Division table. The Park Hall side didn’t create too much of their own with Callum Graybrook the closest to an equaliser with a second half free kick that fizzed past Danny Read’s upright. And Lewis Jarmin got in behind a high back line with the score still at 1-0 only for Read to spring from his line as a poor first touch from Town’s number 8 gave him the chance to rescue those in front of him. The pitch made it difficult for either side to provide a bank holiday spectacular for those that braved the cold, but Alport won’t be complaining too much as they push on in their pursuit to bring Premier Division football to the town. Richard Cowderoy probably saved his side from a potential hiding with the Town keeper getting just enough onto Oli Jepson’s header to deflect the ball onto the crossbar close to the half time whistle. A second goal for the Reds at that stage would surely have opened the floodgates but at 1-0 there was always that doubt that Oswestry might have found a way back into the game. But Blundell’s ever growing list of near-perfect free-kicks was added to late on with a thumping finish that left Cowderoy with no chance.