Widnes (0) 1 Alport (1) 3
Two Matty Ashbrook wonder goals helped Whitchurch secure a third successive win on an artificial surface this season. They followed up wins at Oswestry and Stockport with another one  away at Widnes on Monday evening. And another from skipper Si Everall – his eighth of the campaign – saw Alport run out 3-1 winners at the Select Security Stadium to go to the top of the Division One table. Backed by a noisy following from the town the Reds roared out of the traps against a Widnes side who hadn’t played at the weekend, and were expected to be better equipped for what was always going to be a demanding game. Ashbrook smashed the away side into a 4th minute lead with a run at the full back and a rising drive to finish which bounced over the line via the underside of the crossbar. Alex Hughes brought a breathtaking save out of Kristofer Leigh with a 35 yard free-kick which was heading for the top corner and Ashbrook saw a header drop a smidge wide 60 seconds later. Rob Cooke – making his debut in the Alport goal – made some really good saves to preserve the Reds lead but was helpless when Kev Towey levelled early in the second half. Widnes then enjoyed their best spell but when Nick Marley put over an inviting cross, there was Everall to loop the header back across goal after 65 minutes to restore Alport’s lead. Then, three minutes later, Ashbrook weaved across the deadball line threading the ball in spaces not even wide enough for thread before poking home from a tight angle. It may have gone into the goal off a Widnes defender but the finish was Messi-esque and was worthy of winning any football match. The win took Alport to 18 points – two more than the combined total in 2015-16!