HAVING made the brightest of starts to their careers at Whitchurch Alport, Luke Goddard and Carl Everall have quickly found out what’s needed to win points on a regular basis at Step 6.

Last weekend, their newly-assembled side surrendered their 100 per cent start with a 3-0 setback at Holker Old Boys, and on Saturday, when the focus was all about getting back on track quickly, the Reds were beaten 2-0 on their own patch by a wily bunch representing Charnock Richard.

To emphasise the point, the Lancashire club had two really difficult-looking away trips in front of them, with Tuesday night’s trip to Silsden quickly followed by a journey in the opposite direction to Shropshire.

Both games were won to nil with organisation and experience right the way through the side, working against a youthful-looking Whitchurch side, in much the same way as it had in Yorkshire during the week.

Alport dropped to 11th in the table on the back of their second successive defeat.

Joint manager Goddard reflected after the game: “Obviously the whole group is hugely disappointed with the last two results.

“Granted, we’ve been beaten by sides that sit second and third in the table respectively, but it’s disappointing that we haven’t been able to show our quality and get the small margins in our favour.

“With a young side it is always going to take time and the harsh reality is the young lads needed to experience the two losses to aid their development and understanding.

“There are a couple more left in the squad who will get their opportunity and once they have, everyone will have had that chance in the opening games to prove they deserve to be in the side.

“As a management team we will then decide the best way to go forward with the group. We are aware we need to bring in a couple of extra bodies over the next few weeks to bolster in certain areas, and that will happen.

“But it must be the right player who wants to buy into the club and the plans we have in place to improve it over the next few seasons.”

Meanwhile, Alport claimed the bragging rights in a north Shropshire derby against FC Oswestry Town last night (Tuesday), with a stunning away 3-0 win at The Venue.

A double from Simon Everall, and a third from Mathew Ashbrook, meant the game was over before the hour in front of a 161-strong crowd.

For more from the excellent derby win, see next week's Herald.