Whitchurch Alport joint-manager, Matt Burton, took charge for the first time on Saturday in a game which had the most incredible finale.

Trailing 3–2 and five minutes into added on time, Alport scored a goal befitting of a Roy of the Rovers cartoon.

They sent goalkeeper Dave Parton forward knowing full well that they were in the last chance saloon and incredibly, Parton met the corner like a seasoned striker to plant his header firmly into the corner to salvage a point.

But Burton accepted his side got more than they deserved: “We weren’t at it today for whatever reason,” he said. “We started poorly and were on the back foot right from the off.

"The goal we conceded was typical of our approach to the game and should have been avoided. The second one came from another mistake and fair play to their lad he’s scored with a terrific finish.

Suddenly, we are two adrift and looking distinctly second best. Our decision-making was really poor and we were hoping not to ship any more goals when we suddenly got back into it. We had barely threatened all afternoon so when Dave Howarth gambled and got his reward we then had a different half-time team talk.

"Whatever we said didn’t make any impact on the players. Our decision-making, and our passing were way off the required standard and we gave away a penalty when two defenders were done by a more enthusiastic opponent.

"When they scored that, you pray for a lifeline and it came via a free-kick. I’d gone over to the far side and said to Cuffy (Joe Cuff) just put pace on it and aim for the far post.

"Luckily it went past everyone and with the goalkeeper flat-footed we were once again back in it.”

What was to follow was unthinkable. “We had nothing to lose and so sent Parts up just to try and unsettle them from the corner.

They knew all they had to do was defend it and they would have won the game but Dave has got on the end of it and will now badger us all week to be playing up front on Saturday!

Despite the team earning the unlikeliest of results when all looked lost when chasing down a two-goal deficit twice in the match, the former Haughmond manager was honest enough to admit his side were distinctly second best for large parts of the game.

He added: “Ashton will surprise a lot of teams and will win more than they will lose.

I was really impressed with them but at the same time, too many of my players gave what looked like half-hearted performances and we will have to make some tough decisions.

"Overall, we’ve gained a positive outcome and can take that into Tuesday’s game at Rylands.”

Burton is looking forward to his spell at the club.

“I had managed at Haughmond and at Ellesmere Rangers and got them promoted," he said.

"When I went to Oswestry I promised them I would get them into the Premier Division within two seasons and was well on course to do that.”

With Oswestry top of the table, some might have questioned his decision to jump ship but not Burton.

He said: “It was absolutely the right time to come here,” he said. “Luke had sounded me out about a month ago and said he thought I could do a job for Alport.

"I was well aware of what was happening here as was most of the rest of Shropshire. Everyone was talking about the emergence of Whitchurch Alport and you just had to look at the way the club’s social media accounts were always busy promoting one thing or another.

"I felt we weren’t getting the assurances we were provided with when I took the job at Oswestry.

"Mike Harris the TNS owner has this grandiose vision of getting the club much higher up the pyramid but it’s one that I can never see coming to fruition.

Coaching staff came and went, better players played for us and then you never saw them again so there was no continuity. On top of that, I was doing everything from driving the minibus to away games and even filling water bottles on matchday.

"So to get the opportunity to come to one of the biggest clubs in the NWCFL, it was too big a job to turn down.”

With co-manager, Luke Goddard, missing the Ashton game through ill health, the biggest area of concern will be his leaky back four. Having looked rock solid for the opening ten matches or so, Alport have shipped 10 goals in the last three games. Following last night’s game in Warrington, the Reds can prepare for a double header of home games – providing the Yockings Park pitch can cope with a rainy period unprecedented for this time of year.

Barnoldswick are first up at the weekend with league leaders, 1874 Northwich, hot on their heels on Monday night.