Alport (1) 2 Cefn Druids (1) 1
Martin Wild reports from Yockings Park
Alport go into the weekend clash with Lostock Gralam full of confidence after a superb midweek victory over Cefn Druids. The Welsh Premier Division newbies arrived at Yockings Park with the luxury of being able to field two different sides for each half. And the North Walians made a great start when Joe Williams - a new signing from Wrexham - played a neat one-two with skipper Steve Blenkinsop, before blasting the ball past Milosz Walentowicz from outside the box with the aid of a slight deflection. The away side were comfortable in the early stages but this goal kicked the new Alport side into action.
It was Michael G. Jones in the Druids goal  who was fishing the ball out of his net just five minutes later when the hosts constructed a really good spell of possession which started just inside the Druids half. Player-manager Carl Everall – who had a terrific game aswell as joint boss Luke Goddard – had nowhere to go and started the ball moving the other way. It involved three of the back four and Joe Minshull’s precision pass put Dean Twigg into some space down the right. The youngster whipped over a telling cross with Si Everall looping his header over Jones for a fantastic team goal. Opportunities for both sides for the remainder of the half, with possession fairly even although Druids did enjoy a strong end to the first period.
The sides went in level but within five minutes of the restart, the fresher legs of Cefn counted for nothing when Everall doubled his, and Alport’s tally. Matty Ashbrook, who caught the eye once more with some mazy dribbles, set Everall free and with his weaker left foot he beat another Michael Jones who fared no better than his first-half namesake playing in the same position.
Despite the rigours of the previous game against Kidsgrove, Alport dug in and defended as if they were going for a league title with a real determination to maintain the lead. They enjoyed a touch of good fortune along the way with the top of the bar saving them twice, despite the away side going close there were good chances for Everall, Ashbrook and Blundell that nearly found the back of the net for Alport as the home side remained compact seeing the game out. The Alport squad were applauded off the pitch at the end and deservedly so after another strong performance against a very good side in Cefn Druids, certainly a performance and result that begins to erase the memories of last seasons first year in the NWCFL as the Club look to be competitive! FT 2-1
Team: Walentowicz,Minshall,Goddard,Tinsley A,Ledwards,Ashbrook,Twigg,Everall C,Thomas,Blundell,Everall S(capt)
Subs: Taylor,Tinsley D,Prince,Coles,Maclennan,Hartley,Rimmer
Next Up we host Cheshire League side Lostock Gralam at Yockings Park (2pm KO)
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