First-minute goal sets the scene as Alport rue missed chances

Burscough 2

Whitchurch Alport 0

Alport’s miserable run continued with a shock 2-0 defeat against relegation-haunted Burscough.

The home side had won just one game all season so the Yockings Park men would have fancied their chances of recording a first league win on the road since October.

They could barely have made a worse start though and with just 38 seconds on the clock the referee awarded a penalty to Burscough with a clear foul committed in the area.

Nathan Martland smashed the spot kick right down the middle and Alport were already staring down both barrels.

For the best part of 30 minutes the game was totally non-descript, except for Burscough fullback Adam Dixon, who missed a glorious chance to double his side’s lead with a tame effort straight to Alport keeper Dave Parton.

Dixon would later play a key part in the decisive goal.

At the opposite end, Burscough keeper Dave Jones had been a virtual bystander but suddenly was called into action three times in the space of a minute.

Jud Ellis was thwarted by the Burscough stopper and as the ball was only half cleared, Sean Griffiths let fly from 25 yards only for Jones to make a flying save before springing to his feet and denying Ellis once more.

The game had come to life and Connor Ready brought a miraculous save from Parton with a vicious swerving shot that was heading for the roof of the net.

The game perhaps hinged on a terrible decision from the match official who denied Alport a clear penalty on the brink of half-time.

Ellis was clearly fouled as he took aim but the referee waved away vociferous claims from players and supporters alike.

In the additional minutes Jones made his best save of the match to deny Joe Minshall a first Alport goal.

The defender’s smart volley was turned away just as Minshall was getting ready to wheel away in celebration.

The next goal was always going to be crucial and twice Alport had great chances to score.

Sam Phillips was through on goal but a nasty bobble on the worst pitch in the division made Phillips look foolish.

Moments later Joe Cuff missed an even better opportunity. You would have bet your mortgage on the winger netting past a hugely exposed Jones but the goalkeeper wasn’t even called into action with Cuff’s connection on the ball a dreadful one.

Dixon – who had wasted that great chance earlier – then ran half the length of the pitch into the bowels of the Alport defence to square brilliantly to George Lomax standing all alone at the far post.

He converted to send the home supporters into a mixture of delight and disbelief.

Connor Christiansen then let Alport off when he was awarded the freedom of the village but from just eight yards out and nobody near him he could only pass the ball to Parton, who should have been picking the ball out of his net for the third time.

A hugely disappointing day for Whitchurch with a lack of composure in the opposition penalty box a major factor in the outcome of this football match.