Alport 3 Shawbury United 1
 
Whitchurch Alport marched into the semi-finals of the Shropshire County Cup for the fourth successive season with a highly impressive performance against Senior Cup holders Shawbury United at Yockings Park.
 
A crowd of 140 were well entertained throughout as the two sides went hammer and tongs for 90 minutes. Despite United playing a step higher than their North Shropshire rivals, Alport looked the better side throughout and scored three very good goals.
 
But it was the visitors who were first to show when Matt Ballard saw his header crash down off the underside of the bar and into the grateful arms of Cam Phelps. And the Alport keeper showed great agility to turn over Ballard’s 25 yard drive on 10 minutes. It was end to end stuff in the early exchanges with the hosts also getting shots on target but they were largely routine saves for Ian Havard in the Shawbury goal.
 
But he was beaten on the quarter hour when Reds skipper Simon Everall did brilliantly down the right hand side, before swinging over a cross that Jud Ellis met with a powerful diving header to bullet the ball past Havard to make it 1-0.
 
Half chances came and went for both sides but Alport deservedly increased their lead four minutes before half time when Ellis turned provider and set James Bennett-Tindall free. His pace saw him skip past the advancing Havard before coolly slotting home with his left foot to send Whitchurch in with a cushion.
 
Joe Howell ought to have made it three from a free header after more wizardy from the industrious Everall, and the away side survived a penalty scare when Elliot Ledwards’ cross appeared to strike a hand.
 
With 20 minutes left, Shawbury were thrown a lifeline as Alport let their defensive guard down after being so assured for most of the game. They had more than one opportunity to clear and were eventually punished when Ballard swept a really nice finish across Phelps.
 
But Alport weren’t to be denied and less than 60 seconds after coming on as sub, last season’s top scorer Mike Blundell executed a beautiful lob over Havard with 11 minutes remaining. He almost repeated the feat with a carbon copy effort right at the death, but there was no denying Alport’s right to a place in the last four with Shawbury distinctly second best on the night.