Shropshire Premier Cup S/Final - Newport Town 2 Whitchurch Alport 1 (AET)
Wed 28th March 2018 | County Cup Competitions | By Ian Templeman
A night that began promisingly for Whitchurch Alport ended in disappointment, after an extra time defeat at the hands of Newport Town in the TJ Vickers Shropshire Premier Cup semi final.
It was looking good for Alport when they went in a goal up and with a one man advantage at half time, with Nicky Porter putting the Reds ahead shortly after Newport's Liam Bould had been sent off.
But their opponents, currently in second place in the West Midlands Regional League Division One, levelled with 15 minutes to go through Simon Jackson to take the game in to extra time, and a terrific 30 yard shot from Jay Russell at the end of the first half of extra time booked their place in the final.
In a game played at Greenfields, home of Market Drayton Town, Whitchurch began well and enjoyed the majority of the early possession, although it was Newport who had the first chance of note when Cam Phelps was forced into a smart save from a Jamie King effort.
Nine minutes before half time, Alport had a let off when Town's Tom Bradley hit the outside of the post with a shot from 25 yards, but the odds swung slightly in their favour when Newport were reduced to ten men a couple of minutes later
Newport's Liam Bould was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Louis James, and it got worse for Newport as the game moved towards first half stoppage time when Alport took the lead.
A neat passing move set up a shooting chance for Nicky Porter and the Alport midfielder buried a shot into the far corner of the net to give the Reds the half time advantage.
The Reds began the second half on the front foot, and three minutes in a Porter cross was spilled by Newport keeper Andy Heal, and Ben Mills was first to react but his snap shot flew over the crossbar from close range.
The possession statistics continued to favour Alport as the half wore on, but a second goal proved to be elusive, and their failure to press home their territorial and one man advantage was punished with 15 minutes remaining.
A deep cross from the right wasn't dealt with by the Alport defence, and Newport's Simon Jackson rose to power home a header into the corner of net to bring his side level.
It nearly got worse for Alport five minutes from time, when Newport's Ed James blasted a shot over from a good position, but remaining minutes passed without further incident and the game moved into extra time.
Half chances for Sean Griffiths and Lee Pickerill came and went for Alport, and right at the end of the first half of extra time, Newport Town took the lead in unexpected fashion with a spectacular goal.
Jay Russell was the Town hero, picking up a ball 30 yards out and unleashing a cracking shot past Phelps to turn the game in his side's favour.
As time ran out, Alport pushed forward desperately in search of an equaliser.
But the closest they came was from a Joe Howell effort that flew wide, and Newport held out to clinch their place in the final, where they will play Haughmond, conquerors of FC Oswestry Town in the other semi final.
Shropshire Premier Cup S/Final - Newport Town 2 Whitchurch Alport 1 (AET)
Wed 28th March 2018 | County Cup Competitions
By Ian Templeman
A night that began promisingly for Whitchurch Alport ended in disappointment, after an extra time defeat at the hands of Newport Town in the TJ Vickers Shropshire Premier Cup semi final.
It was looking good for Alport when they went in a goal up and with a one man advantage at half time, with Nicky Porter putting the Reds ahead shortly after Newport's Liam Bould had been sent off.
But their opponents, currently in second place in the West Midlands Regional League Division One, levelled with 15 minutes to go through Simon Jackson to take the game in to extra time, and a terrific 30 yard shot from Jay Russell at the end of the first half of extra time booked their place in the final.
In a game played at Greenfields, home of Market Drayton Town, Whitchurch began well and enjoyed the majority of the early possession, although it was Newport who had the first chance of note when Cam Phelps was forced into a smart save from a Jamie King effort.
Nine minutes before half time, Alport had a let off when Town's Tom Bradley hit the outside of the post with a shot from 25 yards, but the odds swung slightly in their favour when Newport were reduced to ten men a couple of minutes later
Newport's Liam Bould was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Louis James, and it got worse for Newport as the game moved towards first half stoppage time when Alport took the lead.
A neat passing move set up a shooting chance for Nicky Porter and the Alport midfielder buried a shot into the far corner of the net to give the Reds the half time advantage.
The Reds began the second half on the front foot, and three minutes in a Porter cross was spilled by Newport keeper Andy Heal, and Ben Mills was first to react but his snap shot flew over the crossbar from close range.
The possession statistics continued to favour Alport as the half wore on, but a second goal proved to be elusive, and their failure to press home their territorial and one man advantage was punished with 15 minutes remaining.
A deep cross from the right wasn't dealt with by the Alport defence, and Newport's Simon Jackson rose to power home a header into the corner of net to bring his side level.
It nearly got worse for Alport five minutes from time, when Newport's Ed James blasted a shot over from a good position, but remaining minutes passed without further incident and the game moved into extra time.
Half chances for Sean Griffiths and Lee Pickerill came and went for Alport, and right at the end of the first half of extra time, Newport Town took the lead in unexpected fashion with a spectacular goal.
Jay Russell was the Town hero, picking up a ball 30 yards out and unleashing a cracking shot past Phelps to turn the game in his side's favour.
As time ran out, Alport pushed forward desperately in search of an equaliser.
But the closest they came was from a Joe Howell effort that flew wide, and Newport held out to clinch their place in the final, where they will play Haughmond, conquerors of FC Oswestry Town in the other semi final.
