WHITCHURCH Alport’s gamble in ensuring their home game against bottom-of-the-table Ashton Town went ahead on Saturday  paid off handsomely with a resounding 4-0 victory. 

Volunteers, including co-manager Luke Goddard, were at the ground early on Saturday morning brushing water off the pitch, and the club took the precaution of holding a preliminary inspection at 10.30 just to make sure. 

With no further rain until the match had finished, the hard work bore fruit and left Goddard a very happy man: “I knew it was a gamble – a massive one,” he told me afterwards. 

“We were desperate to play because we knew that other teams would have their games called off and we didn’t want to have to rearrange a game. 

“All we’re interested in is putting as many points on the board as we can and asking teams to come and catch us. So many of them have to play each other; some will fade away, and others might have games in hand but the points difference is a huge ask of some. 

“Today’s team had me in it for the first time in four months, Krystian (Burzynski) in goal who’s never played for us before, Wes (Nelson) who’s only 18 making his first start in the Counties, Louis (James) who doesn’t play that high up normally, and El (Ledwards) and Stevie (McNichol) both carrying knocks."

*For a full Alport round-up, see this week's Whitchurch Herald.