Away day kings Whitchurch Alport triumph again
Whitchurch Alport boss Adam Shillcock praised the attitude of his players after their winning run extended to eight matches with a first-ever victory at Studley.
Goals from Luca Whitney and Harry Bower put Alport in command within the opening 24 minutes.
Callum Parker then made it three late on before Harry Lake netted a late consolation for the hosts.
Alport remain sixth in the Midland League Premier Division but have matches in hand on every team above them.
Shillcock said: “We have never won here before. At Stourport, AFC Wulfrunians and now here, we are picking up points we haven’t before.
“It was another good performance on a different surface, in what can be a tough environment.
“For the first 35 minutes we were very good. There was a lapse of concentration and maybe a bit of complacency for the last 10 minutes of the second half. But overall we were dominant.
“At this time of year it can be difficult to play the way you want to play. There are loads of positives to take.”
Remarkably, seven of Alport’s wins in their current run have come on the road. Shillcock promised his team won’t be getting carried away.
He said: “We get up tomorrow and we will be hungry. We wake up losers, hungry for that next win.
“That is how we are motivated at the moment. It doesn’t matter whether you are eight, nine, 10 or 30 unbeaten, you always address each one like a loser, hungry for that next W.”
Shifnal Town lost ground on leaders Lichfield City as they were held to a 0-0 draw at 1874 Northwich.
The point means second-placed Shifnal are now 10 points behind Lichfield, albeit with two matches in hand.
In Division One, AFC Bridgnorth moved further away from the danger zone thanks to an entertaining 5-3 win at home to Birstall United Social.
Market Drayton Town boss Dan Dawson praised his team after they claimed a 1-1 draw away at Runcorn Town in Division One South of the North West Counties League.
Isaac Shaw cancelled out Jamie Apperley’s early opener for the hosts and Dawson was happy with how his team performed on an awkward playing surface.
“I was really impressed,” he said. “The pitch was an absolute shambles and the lads had to graft. To come away with a draw we feel a little bit hard done to, maybe we could have pinched it, though they had chances too.
“I imagine it was a really good game for the neutral albeit not too much football was played.”
There was heartbreak for Shawbury United, who were unable to build on last week’s impressive draw with Stafford Town as they were beaten 2-1 by Abbey Hulton United.
Shawbury led early through Marc Stallard’s goal but were pegged back just after the break by Lewis Holdham, with Jake Gumbley netting a winner for the visitors six minutes from time. The hosts remain bottom of the table.
Allscott Heath slipped into the relegation zone after they lost 4-2 at Ashville, despite a Ben Davies brace.
Ryan Clarke’ hat-trick saw mid-table Ludlow Town overcome Shortwood United 3-1 in Hellenic League Division One, while Telford Town reached the final of the Shropshire Challenge Cup by beating Shrewsbury Up & Comers 2-0 thanks to goals from Andy Nicol and Ryan Mansell.
