Whitchurch manager Luke Goddard believes he can see the signs of his young and inexperienced side starting to find their feet at a higher level of football, despite a weekend defeat and a 94th minute leveller on Monday night.

Alport were held to a 1-1 draw by 1874 Northwich at Yockings Park while they were beaten on the road at Padiham on Saturday, and Goddard is happy with their efforts so far.

He said: "Obviously I'm gutted for the lads with the timing of the goal at the end but in reflection it was what 1874 deserved from the second half so I have no complaints with the final result. Our lads put in a great shift against one of the proven sides in this league especially after the game we went through on Saturday. We've given debuts to lads like Callum O'Connor who has never played at this level before and left more proven lads on the bench.

"For me that will go along way as we continue to grow into this division and get stronger as the weeks pass by. The effort and attitude all season has been great and after all four games so far I can see the signs of what we are building even early on. It's vital we are competitive and no can argue with that from our opening fixture so far, we bounce into our FA Cup fixture this weekend.”

A late equaliser from 1874 Northwich dented Whitchurch Alport`s hopes of a first victory in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division at Yockings Park.

Throughout the game it was very much Northwich who looked to control possession as the Reds looked to remain organised and frustrate one of the division's best sides.

With this during the first period Alport played some decent football themselves on the return and took the lead on 20 minutes. A neat passing move eventually found a combination of an Arron Johns touch and a defender to find its way into the visitors goal to give Alport the lead.

At the other end Dave Parton pulled off a smart save from a curling effort from Northwich and winger Joe Wooley went close with a shot from the right-hand side that skimmed the post before the break.

The second half started at a frantic pace set by the visitors as they looked to force their way back into the game. Joe Minshull and Leon Ashman at the heart of the Alport defence dealt well with the majority of these deliveries in the opening fifteen minutes despite the pressure being applied.

Alport were very wasteful in the second half, leading to a nervy final 20 minute period as the home side invited pressure from the composed Northwich side searching for that equaliser. That effort was rewarded in the final minute of added time, a long ball forward, not dealt with by Twigg who looked to have been fouled before slipping, which was tapped home by substitute Matt Beadle.

From the kick off the frustration nearly cost Alport a hard earned point as they switched off and allowed Scott McGowan to run into the 18-yard box unchallenged and his effort clipped the far post before the ref blew for full time.