AFC Blackpool 0 Alport 0
 
Two weeks ago and with automatic promotion still a realistic outcome, Alport ran riot at Ashton and hit nine without reply. Now, with points hard to come by after a third successive game without a win, the goals have dried up and play-off bound Alport only have themselves to blame - after failing to breakthrough in a dominant performance on the Fylde Coast. It didn’t help matters that they came across a goalkeeper in Callum Kirkland who had the game of his life for the Seasiders between the sticks. Kirkland made save after save especially in a second half where Alport didn’t just knock at the door, they battered it down for almost the entire 45 minutes.
 
Whitchurch were shorn of the services of Matty Ashbrook, Mike Blundell and Alex Hughes for the trip to the Fylde coast, and you wonder what might have been with a first choice strike force. That said, Alport made a great start to the game and had Carl Everall’s 30 yarder dropped in instead of slamming against the bar with just 30 seconds on the watch, who knows what might have followed? Carl had two or three decent potshots, young Luke Walley saw his shot deflected fractionally wide and Dean Twigg also came close but Blackpool had chances of their own. Carl Duffy and Jack Williams both saw shots blocked by decent defending and just past the half hour, Aaron Fleming skipped right through the middle of the visitors defence and rounded keeper Danny Read. But with the goal gaping, Read extended his arm to lay a decent glove on the ball and leave the number 11 having to adjust his feet. It was a wonderful save from the Reds stopper. Louis James headed the best chance of the first half in the dying seconds wide of the target, and the away fans – who again outnumbered the home – were left hoping that their team would be a bit more clinical after the break.
 
At the resumption it was Alport who came out all guns blazing with James and skipper Si Everall both denied by stunning saves from Kirkland. It wouldn’t be the first time that Everall would see his nemesis keep him off the scoresheet. Fans player of the year Nick Marley saw Kirkland keep out a certain goal with his legs after some really good build-up play, before the stopper saved easily from Everall.
 
With 15 minutes to go and the away side still dominating proceedings, Dean Twigg tested the impregnable keeper with a save by the base of the post from a direct free-kick, and Kirkland then flung out a leg to deny Elliot Ledwards from a few yards out. Still Alport probed. Walley wriggled free to aim for the top corner from 12 yards with eight minutes to go, but Kirkland sprung high to his right to beat the ball away.
 
It was an incredible performance from the Blackpool number one who single handedly earned his side a point.  Whitchurch have seen their goals for tally remain at 95 when it could have gone into three figures, and they will need to show more composure in front of goal if they are to achieve their hopes of promotion – in an extended season that could still end in glory in just 3 weeks time!