Mercian Regional Football League
Premier Division
Allscott FC 0, Whitchurch Alport 4
DESPITE their feverish efforts to ensure the game went ahead, Allscott’s groundstaff must have wondered why they bothered as Whitchurch romped to a 4-0 victory to regain top spot in the Mercian Premier Division.
Liam Challenor and Luke Woollam both helped themselves to a brace against an Allscott side full of confidence after their 7-3 demolition job on Prees last week.
On a heavy pitch Whitchurch played all the football in the opening half which yielded just the one goal as Nick Raymond was upended in the box after 27 minutes and Challenor coolly converted from the spot to break Allscott’s resistance.
After the penalty Whitchurch continued to press with Raymond and Maclean going close before the half ended.
Joint player/manager Gavin Brocklehurst was playing as an emergency stand-in ‘keeper and his handling was assured in tricky conditions and made a number of decent stops, while Woollam and JJ Bailey both had chances in the early stages of the second half.
But the Allscott ‘keeper had no chance when Challenor found Woollam who provided a killer finish on the hour and five minutes later it was three when Challenor created yet another opportunity for Woollam who squeezed the ball home.
Stephen Faux and Nathan Rooney were both denied by good saves while Woollam saw his hopes of a hat-trick dashed, when the crossbar intervened to keep out his superb dipping effort with 10 minutes left.
But five minutes later Challenor raced clear and chipped the ‘keeper to put the icing on top of the Alport cake.
On Saturday, the Reds are on their travels when they go to Church Stretton who sit in third place just four points behind the new league leaders.