Alport (1) 1 Kidsgrove Athletic (2) 2
Alport’s second pre-season friendly pitched them against much higher league opposition. Kidsgrove Athletic from the Evo-Stik Southern First Division were always likely to provide the sternest of test for the Whitchurch lads, but in the opening 20 minutes it was hard to distinguish a two league divide between the two sides, with Alport showing really well in that period. And with a little bit more luck in front of goal the home side might have fashioned a draw out of the match. With only five minutes on the watch a really nice move involving Si Everall and Dean Twigg saw the ball laid off for Liam Prince but he wasn’t set for it. The ball ran loose for Elliot Ledwards who steadied himself before firing in a decent effort with his left foot that flew just wide of the target. Twigg then shot straight at Kristian Burzynski from outside the box before the hosts fell behind against the run of play. A decent move down the right saw the ball fed into Dan Skelton and although Milosz Walentowicz made a decent stop, there was Clayton on hand to turn in the loose ball. Before the half hour mark there was a massive let off for the Reds – or Blues as the side donned their away kit at Yockings - with Skelton smashing a shot against the upright when it looked far easier to score. And Kidsgrove were made to pay just four minutes later when Ryan Thomas netted after Burzynski made an outstanding stop from Twigg’s downward header. It was no less than they deserved and came from a great delivery from Matty Ashbrook as the youngster continues to impress down Alport’s left flank. Prince brought a flying save out of Burzynski as Alport came close just after the goal, but it was the visitors who grabbed what turned out to be the winner ten minutes before the break. Joe Woolley set his sights from a 25 yard free-kick and curled it expertly over a five man wall and into the net.
Ledwards put a free-kick for Alport just over as the second half got underway and when Woolley went in search of a carbon copy set piece soon after, Walentowicz wasn’t to be beaten for a second time and pushed the ball over the top. With the game inside the last 20 minutes and both sides making personnel changes, Woolley clattered the post with a linesman’s flag sparing the blushes of Clayton - who somehow contrived to spoon the rebound five yards wide with the net gaping. But in truth, a third for the visitors would have been undeserved.
Alport again finished the game well with Si Everall twice going close, especially with just 10 minutes to play when Burzynski did just enough to push his shot onto the base of the post. Substitute Dan Tinsley then put a superb delivery in for Taylor whose flying header flashed just wide and that looked like Alport’s best chance of an equaliser had passed. But with the 90 minutes almost up, Mike Blundell showed brilliant footwork as he skipped past several defenders in the box, before finding the inside of the post with Burzynski well beaten. So, although a defeat, the moral victory belonged to the boys in blue, with the woodwork denying Alport a deserved share of the spoils.
Alport: Walentowicz, Ward, Ledwards, Everall C, Johnson, Goddard, Twigg, Prince, Everall S (capt), Thomas, Ashbrook
Subs: Taylor, Blundell, Minshall, Coles, Tinsley, Maclennan, Hartley, Rimmer
Report by Martin Wild (Whitchurch Herald)
Thanks for your support this afternoon! We are back in action Tuesday night as we host Welsh Premier Side Cefn Druids (7.30pm)