A spirited opening for youthful side

Oct 9 2008 Whitchurch Herald

Market Drayton 2 Whitchurch 0

AFTER a successful start to the season, winning the Shropshire Shield, Whit- church lost their opening league game at Market Drayton.

A youthful Whitchurch side, led by captain Paul Marshallsay, started with great spirit and looked the better side for the first 20 minutes.

But the second half saw a stronger Market Drayton side score two goals in quick succession to win the match. Whitchurch hope to bounce back on Saturday against Pershore (1.30pm kick-off) at St John Talbot’s School.

Winnington Park Ladies 4 Whitchurch Ladies 2: Unbeaten Park were always going to pose a tough challenge as they hosted Whit- church – and so it proved.

Whitchurch were without three first-team players and they found themselves 2-0 down after just 10 minutes.

Whitchurch’s wake-up call came from a new face, Kate Matthews, who made an inspiring run from the halfway line to dribble the ball around the keeper and set up Kim Durrant to slot home.

The second half was end to end and it was only when Whitchurch were down to 10 due to an injury that Winnington scored two quick goals.

Whitchurch continued to battle and although the game seemed lost, piled the pressure on and scored a late consolation goal through Nikki Ellis. Player-of-the-match was Lucy Ratcliffe.

Oswestry U15s 5 Whitchurch U15s Badgers 1: The Badgers only got going at half time, when they were already 3-0 down.

Olly White scored early in the second half but for all their possession they could not convert their chances with Oswestry running out easy winners.

Whitchurch are away for the third week running to Shrewsbury on Saturday (11am).