Alport 0 Litherland REMYCA 2
 
Alport’s promotion hopes were dealt a blow at a saturated Yockings Park on Monday evening, when they went down to a first defeat in over 3 months. Goals from Jason McShane and Alex Ryan cemented Remyca’s second place in the table and with a vastly superior goal difference – helped by a four goal swing on the night – they have what amounts to a four point advantage on the Reds.
 
Of course, this is hardly season defining with 15 league games still to play, but this was a big chance to put out a statement to the rest of the division and Alport failed to take it. They should have got off to a dream start with Arron Johns somehow failing to get enough purchase on a golden opportunity just two minutes in, and his tame shot was hacked clear on the goal line. The Yockings men wouldn’t get a better chance all evening.
 
With the rain lashing around the ground throughout, conditions were difficult but the two sides still put on a decent showing for a superb attendance of 237 who came out to brave the elements. McShane smashed a shot hard and low across Danny Read after 13 minutes to put the away side in front and despite a lot of huffing and puffing from the boys in Red, they didn’t work keeper Ben Morrow anywhere near enough. Read threw up an reactionary arm with 10 minutes to go to half-time but that would have been cruel on Alport to have gone in two behind.
 
As the crowd packed out the clubhouse in need of shelter, the rains continued to pour around SY13 and when the two teams emerged, it was Whitchurch on the front foot as they pressed hard for an early leveller. Skipper Si Everall twice fired too high and another goal line clearance saved Remy, but it took two fine saves within a minute from Read to deny Colin Quirk on both occasions from doubling the visitors lead.
 
There was an injury scare for the Alport keeper 10 minutes from time, with Read needing lengthy treatment as he took a nasty blow to the hand, which could make him doubtful for this weekend’s away trip to Atherton.  
 
As the clock ticked ever closer to the 90 there was to be one more great chance for the hosts, but Morrow did superbly to keep out sub Nicky Porter’s goalbound effort. It was a save that would go a long way to securing the win. Remy employed every delaying tactic in the book and in terms of game management, you had to take your hat off to them.
With 4 minutes of added on time already played, the referee awarded Remyca a free-kick whilst administering what looked like a very harsh yellow card on Sean Griffiths. It didn’t even look like a foul but with the very last kick of the ball, Ryan picked out the top corner for a superb second goal to give the Merseyside outfit a crucial three points to take home with them.
 
It was Alport’s first home defeat since October and time will tell if this is a defeat they will live to regret come the season’s end.