WHITCHURCH will go into Saturday’s clash at fellow high-fliers Charnock Richard, looking to pick themselves up following their FA Vase exit at the weekend. 

Alport went down 2-1after extra time in front of a healthy crowd, after visitors Wellington had levelled the tie in 90 minutes. 

Whitchurch did have a number of key players missing for the tie, with skipper and top scorer Si Everall enjoying a mini-break in the Canary Islands, Stevie McNichol serving the last of a three-game suspension, Matty Ashbrook starting the first of his, keeper Danny Read away on holiday, and Nick Marley unavailable through course commitments. 

Ryan Thomas was carrying a knock, so was tentatively handed a substitute shirt, and although the Reds gave their all, they were a long way from their best and were guilty of showing profligacy in front of goal. 

Ultimately, it was their failure to put the ball in the net that proved their downfall.

Co-manager Luke Goddard said he was “gutted” not to have won the game – which would have been worth £600 in prize money alone to the Yockings Park men.

 And Lea Edge, who was manager at arch rivals Malpas up until the end of the season and is now working with Whitchurch, recognised that a very good chance of progress had slipped away.

“We’ve set very high standards this season and we know Wellington were beatable,” he said.

*For a full round-up of the North Shropshire sports scene, see this week's Whitchurch Herald.