Alport 1 Crewe Alexandra 4
 
A strong Crewe Alexandra side were given a stern test by Alport on Monday night at Yockings Park. The Railwaymen fielded several players who are expected to be given parts to play in Crewe’s League Cup tie at home to Bolton Wanderers at Gresty Road. And although they won the match in front of another superb gate (440), Alport gave an excellent performance playing some lovely football at times.
 
The home side were rocked when Chris Jackson put the ball past his own goalkeeper with less than two minutes on the watch. Jackson didn’t appear to be under any pressure but swept the ball into the bottom corner with his attempt to put the ball behind. But Alport responded well and after nine minutes they levelled when Si Everall skipped beyond Alex goalkeeper, Dave Richards, to net from a tight angle.
 
Harry Pickering lashed home from 25 yards to restore Crewe’s lead and Owen Dale headed against a post when he ought to have scored. But at the other end, Nick Marley and Mike Blundell both tested Richards on the stroke of half-time, as Whitchurch pressed for a second equaliser.
 
After the break, both teams continued to entertain the crowd with Crewe adding a third midway through the second 34 when a jinking run from Dale took him past a number of red shirts. When he pulled the trigger, the ball flew low and hard past Read for a third Alex goal. Josh Lundstrom was credited with their fourth following a corner 12 minutes from the end and although it was a sloppy goal to concede, it was hard to be critical with Alport applauded from the field after a really encouraging performance. Almost the entire squad got game time ahead of this weekend’s first league game at home to Holker Old Boys.