Alport’s incredible journey into the quarter-finals of the FA Vase was ended as Newport Pagnell Town won by the odd goal in three despite the Reds scoring first. There were contentious moments in the match – one of which led to the Swan’s equaliser – and a precise finish into the bottom corner was the defining one and Newport just about deserved their victory.

This was about more than just the match though. Much more. Whitchurch has been put on the National map due to the superb efforts of Luke Goddard and his staff and players. On top of that, the whole town came together as one to unite behind the football club and a club record crowd of 1200 squeezed into the KMJ Mortgages Stadium. Credit must also go to the travelling support of Newport who along with the raucous home fans made for a brilliant atmosphere.

Alport went in front with barely five minutes on the watch with a well-constructed goal finished off by captain, Sean Griffiths, who netted from close range. But by the 18th minute the visitors had levelled and much of it was due to the instructions given to the referee from his linesman. Ellis Allen in the home goal was adjudged to have taken out Jake Atkinson and despite the match official pointing one way, furious Newport players asked the ref to go and speak to his assistant on the far side. After the briefest of discussions, a penalty was awarded and Jack Shepherd did the honours from 12 yards. The teams went in at the halfway stage locked at one apiece but Daniel Webb scored the winning goal just before the hour.

Goddard was so proud of the whole club despite the defeat: “To put on an occasion like this one takes a hell of a lot of work and to me this epitomises Whitchurch Alport Football Club and what we are all about. I’m still a young manager at 31 but just look around the place and see what we have achieved in just six years. We do things the right way both on and off the pitch and the pride we have put into the whole town is something we shouldn’t underestimate,” he said.