Alport's FA Vase dream lives on after five-star performance

Saturday's 5-1 win at Derbyshire's Cross Clay Town set up a tie a trip to Tyneside and North Shields FC on February 1 with the Shropshire side just three wins away from Wembley.

Shillcock thinks the Vase run is an example of a club on the rise but does not want the dream to end here. 

"Let’s not settle just for this. Let’s keep going," he said,

"Let’s get up there, let’s carry the badge up there. Whitchuch Alport in the north-east? I don’t even know if we have played up there before but because we are getting better and improving, we have earned the right."

Five different players found the net as Alport ran away with the tie in the second half. Jack Loughran, Roman Allen, Adam Hailes, Luca Whitney and Callum Knowles were all on the mark, though Shillcock reserved particular praise for goalkeeper Jack Sheward who made two big saves when the game was still goal-less.

"We didn’t start right. The first 10 minutes the keeper has pulled off two great saves and then it was a case of battling up the hill.

"The deciding factor was we just showed more composure and quality in the final third but that is what wins games

"Jack should be looking at being the best keeper in step five and he stood tall in those first 10 minutes for us."

Shifnal Town kept up the pressure on the Midland League Premier Division promotion chasers with a last-gasp win at OJM Black Country.

The Shropshire club found themselves trailing early in the second half but fought back to snatch victory courtesy of Isaac Phillips’ stoppage time penalty, after Kyle Byrne had levelled the scores.

Market Drayton Town were unable to build on an excellent start after blowing a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Cheadle Heath Nomads in North West Counties Division One South.

In front of a three-figure home crowd, Drayton flew out of the blocks and were two up in 17 minutes thanks to goals from Declan Arber and Max Raine.

But they were unable to maintain the momentum and were pegged back before the break with Edson Cata and Alex May netting for the visitors.

Shawbury United remain bottom of the table after going down 4-0 at Cammell Laird, all goals coming in the second half.

In Division One of the Midland League, AFC Bridgnorth suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Nuneaton Griff.