Whitchurch Alport vs Northwich Victoria: Macron League Cup Round 1

COMPETITION - Macron League Cup Round 1. VENUE - Yocking Park Stadium, Whitchurch. DATE - Monday 16th October 2017.

Result- Whitchurch Alport 1 Northwich Victoria 1 (Vics' won 5-4 on pens)

Vics' LINE-UP -
Donlon, McDonnell, Lawrence, Weston (C), Johnson (caution), Fitton, Willis (Marshall 66') (caution), Bickett (D) (Pollard 85') (caution), Gorman, Matthews, Durnin. Un-used subs' - Bennett, Gyimah, Pino.
No extra-time played.

Unavailable for Vics' - Reece Lyndon - CENTRAL DEFENDER - (thigh), Anthony Shinks - CENTRAL DEFENDER - (knee.)

GOALS - Whitchurch Alport - Howell 41'. Vics' - Adam Lawrence 90 + 4'.

Vics' M.O.M - Adam Lawrence. As chosen by Vics' boss Steve Wikes'

I think a special mention goes to my M.O.M Adam Lawrence. Adam's come into the side in the last couple of games and it's like he's been playing there all season. He's been assured on the ball, tremendous in the air, and the goal he scored showed that he's a brave boy too.

REPORT -

Alport exited the Macron Challenge Cup in the cruellest way after a dramatic ending at a windy Yockings Park on Monday. The Reds had led since the 41st minute via a Joe Howell strike, but in the third minute of injury time Vics' centre-back Adam Lawrence got just about enough connection on the ball to head into the net from short range. That took the game straight to penalties and after four successful conversions each; Ports' Luke Walley had the chance to earn Whitchurch an away trip to Hanley Town in Round Two, after Port' glove-man Cameron Phelps had made a fantastic save to deny Sam Marshall. That took the game to sudden death and Ryan Thomas blazed over the bar when he needed to score to level it up with Jake Pollard having netted for Vics'.

The game bordered on farcial at times with farce with strong winds blowing through all evening. It made for some crazy moments – most notably when Vics’ Danny Johnson rampaged down the left and delivered a excellent cross into the penalty area on 16' but the ball was caught by the wind and went out for an Alport throw-in on the far-side halfway line.

The home side had the best of the chances. Jimmy Garlick forced a fine stop out of Vics' glove-man Mike Donlon on seven minutes with a sweeping low shot; but Cameron Phelps had already made a good stop to beat away a header from what looked like one of his own teammates at an early Vics' corner on 8'.

Alport went ahead with four minutes of the first half left when Howell pulled the trigger with a low left-foot screamer that found Donlon’s bottom left-hand corner of the net. It was a deserved lead and one they looked like adding to in the second half. Defensively, Port' were solid with striker Ben Mills as an extra defender and they ran themselves into the ground to try and keep their lead intact. Vics' battled away and Brian Matthews saw his header dealt with by Phelps at the foot of the post on 59' and debutant Liam Bickett saw a low right-foot shot whistle just past the far post with Phelps a spectator on 64'. Mike Donlon made a brilliant save to keep out Howell’s twenty-yard bullet drive with 15 minutes to go and with the home fans anxious; the hosts switched off for and were punished when Adam Lawrence pounced right at the end with a pulverising header on 90+4' after a well worked short corner routine to take the tie to penalties.

With both teams scoring their first three spot kicks, Cameron Phelps went full length to beat out Marshall’s effort. Louis James then scored for Port' to make it 4-3 but Samuel Fitton levelled it with aplomb with a precise spot-kick. Walley’s match winning attempt was saved well low down by Donlon and that was Alport’s chance gone. Pollard was up next and scored for Vics. Then upsetted Ryan for Whitchurch, who had to score to keep them in it. He blasted over the bar, and Vics progressed.