Play off final win for Whitchurch Alport
Thu 17th May 2018 | General | By Ian Templeman
Congratulations to Whitchurch Alport, who clinched their place in the Premier Division next season with a 2-1 win over Cammell Laird 1907 in the Division One play-off final.
In front of a record attendance of 733 at Yockings Park, goals in the opening ten minutes from Joe Howell and Simon Everall got Alport off to a terrific start, and although Charlie MacInnes pulled a goal back for Lairds deep into stoppage time, it was the home crowd that were celebrating when the final whistle blew.
Whitchurch Alport manager Luke Goddard was understandably a happy man afterwards.
"I feel ecstatic, but feel relief more than anything", he said.
"We've been used to grinding out results, we did that on Saturday in the semi-final, but today we started well and maybe caught them off guard.
"But to be fair to Cammell Laird, they probably dominated after that but we had done our work in the early part of the game, and were able to sit in and manage the game.
"There's been a lot of pressure building over the year, perhaps some false expectancy really, considering how quickly we have moved forward but you have to deal with that.
"It was all about getting over the line and we've done that.
"To go from bottom of the league two years ago, to being fifth in losing in the play off semi-final last year, and now finishing fourth and winning the final, shows good progress from where we have come from.
"It's great credit to everyone involved. This football club deserves this.
"To break the attendance record on a Thursday night, even though it was a cup final, is tremendous and shows what potential this football club has, and long may that continue, and hopefully this (result) will help us move forward not just on the field, but off the field as well".
Whitchurch dominated the first half, and went ahead in the 6th minutes with a goal from Joe Howell who fired home a well struck shot from 20 yards, although Lairds were unhappy as they believed there had been a foul on Jay Thomas moments earlier.
It got even better for Alport four minutes later when Simon Everall doubled their advantage with a close range finish from a corner kick.
It was a terrific start for the home side, and midway through the first half, Everall came close once again when he fired just wide after an impressive Alport counter attack.
Just after the half hour, Everall was again involved in Alport's next chance when he found some space in the penalty area but dragged a shot wide of the post.
After the break, clear cut chances were thinner on the ground, although Alport came close to a third goal 11 minutes from time, when Joe Howell hit the post with a shot from inside the box.
In stoppage time Charlie MacInnes pulled a goal back for Lairds to set up a nervous last few seconds for everyone in the Alport camp, but the final whistle blew moments later and now Yockings Park will host Premier Division football next season.
Play off final win for Whitchurch Alport
Thu 17th May 2018 | General
By Ian Templeman
Congratulations to Whitchurch Alport, who clinched their place in the Premier Division next season with a 2-1 win over Cammell Laird 1907 in the Division One play-off final.
In front of a record attendance of 733 at Yockings Park, goals in the opening ten minutes from Joe Howell and Simon Everall got Alport off to a terrific start, and although Charlie MacInnes pulled a goal back for Lairds deep into stoppage time, it was the home crowd that were celebrating when the final whistle blew.
Whitchurch Alport manager Luke Goddard was understandably a happy man afterwards.
"I feel ecstatic, but feel relief more than anything", he said.
"We've been used to grinding out results, we did that on Saturday in the semi-final, but today we started well and maybe caught them off guard.
"But to be fair to Cammell Laird, they probably dominated after that but we had done our work in the early part of the game, and were able to sit in and manage the game.
"There's been a lot of pressure building over the year, perhaps some false expectancy really, considering how quickly we have moved forward but you have to deal with that.
"It was all about getting over the line and we've done that.
"To go from bottom of the league two years ago, to being fifth in losing in the play off semi-final last year, and now finishing fourth and winning the final, shows good progress from where we have come from.
"It's great credit to everyone involved. This football club deserves this.
"To break the attendance record on a Thursday night, even though it was a cup final, is tremendous and shows what potential this football club has, and long may that continue, and hopefully this (result) will help us move forward not just on the field, but off the field as well".
Whitchurch dominated the first half, and went ahead in the 6th minutes with a goal from Joe Howell who fired home a well struck shot from 20 yards, although Lairds were unhappy as they believed there had been a foul on Jay Thomas moments earlier.
It got even better for Alport four minutes later when Simon Everall doubled their advantage with a close range finish from a corner kick.
It was a terrific start for the home side, and midway through the first half, Everall came close once again when he fired just wide after an impressive Alport counter attack.
Just after the half hour, Everall was again involved in Alport's next chance when he found some space in the penalty area but dragged a shot wide of the post.
After the break, clear cut chances were thinner on the ground, although Alport came close to a third goal 11 minutes from time, when Joe Howell hit the post with a shot from inside the box.
In stoppage time Charlie MacInnes pulled a goal back for Lairds to set up a nervous last few seconds for everyone in the Alport camp, but the final whistle blew moments later and now Yockings Park will host Premier Division football next season.
