A season’s best attendance of 198 saw Whitchurch Alport record a third straight win with a nervy victory over an AFC Blackpool side, who might have deserved a better outcome. Following a goalless first half at Yockings, Alex Hughes put Alport in front early in the second half. But Blackpool levelled quickly and a penalty miss soon after let Whitchurch off the hook. But the in-form Mike Blundell scored with 15 minutes left with a brilliant free-kick to send Alport second in the table. The game had controversy, stunning goals, great saves, and a highly controversial moment that prompted plenty of twitter interaction after the game. The first big moment in the match came seven minutes after a largely uneventful first 45. A corner swung in by Aaron Fleming struck an unsuspecting Carl Everall only for Danny Read in the home goal to make an outstanding reactionary save to keep the scores level. And within five minutes, great work down the right by Blundell saw Hughes sweep the ball home despite the best efforts of Pool keeper Callum Kirkland. The away stopper then thwarted Matty Ashbrook as the Reds intensified the pressure but the visitors levelled within 10 minutes after the Reds failed to head that earlier warning. Elliot Ledwards failed to track Blackpool skipper Marc Taylor and his header from another Fleming flag-kick thundered past Read who had no chance. Three minutes later – and with Blackpool’s tails up – Ryan Thomas upended Jack Williams in the box and Alport were staring down the barrels. However, Williams skied the pen and Whitchurch breathed again. The huge crowd tried to rally their troops but there was controversy with the game into the final 20 minutes. A stray dog ran onto the field and with play allowed to continue, Hughes smashed a shot into the net via the underside of the crossbar to put Whitchurch back in front. But remarkably, after the ball had hit the net, the referee brought play back and although he was surrounded by furious Alport players, the goal was incredibly chalked off. It looked like the hosts would be denied by canine intervention, but a few minutes later, after Hughes was upended, Blundell arrowed a free kick right into the top corner to land the points for an Alport side that have played far better, and lost. The team were cheered to the rafters after the game and although this was far from Alport’s best performance of the season, the character they showed when the chips were well and truly down, stood them in good stead and they managed to grind out a result.