Twyford and Stevenson goals secure cup success
Emirates FA Cup Whitchurch Alport Leek Town
.......... ....................... LEEK Town overcame a tricky tie at undefeated Whitchurch Alport on Saturday to progress to the second round qualifying stage of the FA Cup.
With Marc Grocott’s ankle injury, sustained in the midweek win at Market Drayton, keeping him out of the game, manager Neil Baker brought in Charlie Walford to the left hand side of his favoured diamond formation in an otherwise unchanged line-up.
If Whitchurch’s biggest ever crowd, swelled by a sizeable following from Leek, were anticipating a rip roaring cup tie then the first half would have left them feeling a bit deflated.
On a slow playing surface, which Leek seemed to particularly find hard to come to terms with, as it did not suit their slick passing game, both sides produced a cagey affair with little in the way of chances as they sized each other up.
What few half-chances that were created were by the home side with their first coming after three minutes when Danny Roberts had to be alert to keep out an effort from 30 yards.
Leek’s first chance came after 13 minutes when Tim Grice’s shot was pushed wide by Dave Parton, in the Whitchurch goal.
Two chances fell in quick succession for Whitchurch, one flying over the crossbar and the other saved by Roberts.
It took until the 31st minute for Leek to put together the best move of the half, some great interchange of passes down the right involving Chris Baker and Jake Twyford saw the latter’s low cross back heeled towards goal by Grice although goalkeeper Parton was untroubled as it went wide. There was a brief sign of life on 38 minutes when a misplaced Whitchurch pass led to Walford finding himself in space at the edge of the area, and his left foot shot had to be tipped over by Parton.
Walford also had an effort from a free-kick 25 yards out that he kept low but Parton was equal to it and shovelled it away for a corner.
However, Leek made the ideal start to the second half with a goal on 49 minutes.
A nondescript passage of play resulted in the ball falling to Twyford some 20 yards out in the centre of goal. His shot was heading straight for Parton until it deflected off an unlucky defender and looped over the stranded goalkeeper into the empty net.
The goal seemed to affect the Alport players and for the next 10 minutes Leek completely dominated the game and, but for Parton, should have extended their lead.
On 51 minutes Walford won a tackle in midfield and released Rob Stevenson. He took the ball on but his shot was straight at Parton.
A great flick header from Grice on 54 minutes again released Stevenson who drove into the area. He was crowded out but the ball fell to Twyford whose shot was again straight at Parton.
Just two minutes later another Leek attack saw the ball played through to Grice in the area. He took it round Parton but, as he shaped to shoot, lost his footing and allowed Parton to recover and block his eventual effort.
Another two chances came and went. On 58 minutes Twyford got in down the right and crossed to the far post. Rob Stevenson had got inside of the full-back and was able to meet the ball, but Parton produced a great save with his legs, and then saved again a minute later as Stevenson returned the favour and played in Twyford.
After surviving this period and, therefore staying in the game, Whitchurch made a number of substitutions to try and turn the tide and, themselves, had a period of pressure which Leek stood firm against.
Although not on target the home crowd got excited by an overhead kick by the Steve Jones on 72 minutes and this served to spur them on and force a couple of corners culminating in a shot that Roberts did well to tip over seven minutes later.
Baker made his first change after 81 minutes as Lewis Short came on for Twyford, and Leek switched to a more defensive 4-4-2 for the last 10 minutes.
The real chance that Alport had been waiting for finally came six minutes from time. Substitute Jones was put clean through on goal, but Danny Roberts came to Leek’s rescue as he quickly came out to save and then smother the effort when an equaliser looked certain.
It was to prove a costly miss as Leek made the game safe three minutes later.
Walford was fouled in midfield, but the referee played a good advantage which allowed Stevenson to run on and finally beat Parton with a vicious near-post effort that rifled past the goalkeeper into the net.
Whitchurch knew the game was up after that, and it was just a matter of Leek running down the clock which they did to maintain their 100 per cent start and seal a place in the next round of the FA Cup.
Leek Town: Roberts, Agbozo, Keenan, Walford, Harrison, Chadwick, Baker, Reeves, Grice, Twyford (Short 80), Stevenson (Kirby 90). Subs: Stanton, Goode, Bavanganga, Thompson, Cortessmith.
Attendance: 797.