United make their point
AWELL-EARNED point for United on Saturday, as they drew 1-1 with Whitchurch Alport at Yockings Park, came after the midweek visit to Bootle fell foul to the weather.
Paul McNally welcomed Alex Davies, Tom Grimshaw, Patrick Staunton, Regan Jarrett and Jason Carey back into the starting line-up while Kofi Opoku-Berche was named on the bench after joining on dual-registration from Ramsbottom United.
After both sides had started well on the mixed pitch it was Alport who opened the scoring in the tenth minute with Sean Griffiths finding Matthew Owen who, from the edge of the area, fired past Ben Barnes to make it 1-0.
The hosts looked to extend their lead five minutes later but Alex Hughes’s effort failed to trouble Barnes before Matty Owen looked to turn provider as he picked out Jud Ellis. However the Alport forward fired over the target.
United went close at the other end with Jack Atkinson forced into a stunning save to prevent captain Jordan Tyrer from levelling with a header from a corner.
Another headed chance saw Jason Carey guiding the ball narrowly past the post after connecting to Tom Croughan’s free-kick.
The second half saw United given the chance to level rapidly after the restart, Carey trying his luck with a shot which went just past the post.
Alport came very close to doubling their lead on 52 minutes as a scramble in the United defence resulted in Jud Ellis firing wide.
Patrick Staunton connected to a corner to head over before another headed effort, this time from Carey, also missed the target but further showed United’s threat. At the other end Alport tried their luck with Owen and Hughes combining, with the former sending a shot over the bar.
As the match entered the final ten minutes, United came achingly close to levelling with substitute Richard Brodie forcing Atkinson to tip his header over the bar before fellow sub Gabriel Ellis saw a header cannon off the woodwork.
United were soon gifted a great chance to level on 83 minutes. Brodie
was felled by Atkinson and, with the referee pointing to the spot, Brodie stepped up and slotted past Atkinson to equalise at 1-1.
Both sides pushed for a winner with a Hughes corner meeting the head of Alport captain Darren Campion and drawing a strong stop from Barnes.
Finally, an effort from United’s Gabriel Ellis saw Atkinson deny him with a superb save.