Two DEFEATS in three days for Whitchurch Alport have left the Yockings Park team in danger of a challenge for a top four place and home play-off semi-final advantage.

It's been a difficult few weeks for the club, following the hospitalisation of media officer and club stalwart Martin Wild, who is making good progress following a broken neck plus news that defender Hovik Nersesyan lost his bid to avoid being deported back to Albania for national service.

Luke Goddard's men are in fourth spot of the New West Counties Division One, three points behind Prestwich Heys in third spot but the Greater Manchester side have two games in hand on Alport.

However, the Reds have played one game more than Sandbach United in fifth place and the Cheshire side are just six points behind, making for nervous end to the season.

Saturday's defeat at home to Silsden came courtesy of a Niall Sultan goal on 50 minutes in a tight clash that saw their Yorkshire hosts return to the top of the table, where they have been for a large part of the season.

The 271-strong crowd – the best in the league by far – saw Alport strive to grab an equaliser but to no avail.

Then on Monday night, Alport made the long trip to Bacup Borough and made the worst possible start when Charles Collinge put the Lancashire ahead inside the first minute.

However, moments after Borough should have doubled their lead, Ryan Thomas planted home a brilliant header just three minutes before the break to lift Alport's spirits.

But as Alport continued to press for a lead, Borough were able to inch their noses in front again on 70 minutes as Matthew Bryan scored the all-important winner.

Goddard admitted he was proud of his side over the weekend. He tweeted: "Proud of the lads @alportfc tonight. Been a long tough period but they’ve never stopped for us. Can’t fault the commitment."

Alport host Daisy Hill on Saturday (3pm).