North West Counties Football League Premier Division

Whitchurch Alport 0

Rylands 2

Two set pieces condemned Alport to yet another defeat at Yockings Park.

The long-suffering home supporters are now without a win at Yockings in over four months and here they had very little to shout about as promotion chasing Rylands added three precious points without ever impressing themselves.

Not that they would complain – you don't get to second in the table by being lucky.

But both goals enjoyed huge slices of good fortune before the points could be transferred from Shropshire to Cheshire.

Skipper Darren Campion hoofed a fifth minute corner past keeper Jack Atkinson before a second-half corner from Andy Scarisbrick took a ride on the wind and dropped in at the far post.

Other than that, the only thing that affected the game was a horrible blustery wind which rendered the second 45 as a complete non-event.

That was such a shame as the opening half was high in quality and although Rylands held the lead at the halfway stage, Alport had played their part and deserved the applause as they left the field.

That said, Michael Emery in the opposition goal might have been able to read the match programme lent against his goalpost such was the lack of any real action in front of him.

Alport though had passed the ball around really well and just the cutting-edge was missing – not for the first time in recent matches on home soil.

The second goal came just past the hour and once that had gone in there was no way back for Whitchurch.

Atkinson needed to be on his toes to repel a couple of flag kicks that were the only danger posed by the visitors who didn't need to be as imposing as they were in the reverse fixture back in November.

A league double then for Rylands and if lady luck continues to shine on them in the manner it did here, then they may well be celebrating come the end of the season.

There was a heart-warming moment in the Cadstones Clubhouse after the match when the match officials donated £30 of their fee to the Aaron Millington fund.

They handed over the cash to Tony Millington, father of the 22-year-old Alport supporter who tragically lost his life earlier this year.