With Broome & co missing in central midfield Whaley yesterday fielded 4 centre forwards and, given Whaley’s recent run of form, everyone expected plenty of goals however through poor decision making in the area & great goal keeping the score line doesn’t reflect how many opportunities Whaley had today.

Whaley’s Tom Scorer latched onto a rare through ball and was pulled down from behind in the box, up stepped Sutton to fire home another penalty to give Whaley a deserved lead. Lee Morris then had a close range shot at the back post saved by Shallcross.

Scorer took a vicious knock from a poor challenge, not seen by the referee, the resulting swollen calf meant that Tom moved wide & Lee Morris, who looked lively, went up top with Ray. The pair linked well immediately playing a one two releasing Dwolitka who guided the ball into the net to make it 2 nil. Whaley then pressed and for twenty minutes and dominated the game but for all the build up play their decision making in the box was awful as Whaley should have & could have easily been 4 or 5 up. Rudheath’s new look young versatile team never let their heads drop and with Didsbury having plenty of freedom in midfield & Hughes pressing were always a threat throughout the game.

The second half was very similar to the first and, Whaley couldn’t finish the game off with several chances spurned in front of goal, Morris shot just wide from close range, Dwolitka had a one on one saved by Shallcross, Burgess clean through decided to shoot early and curved his shot over the bar.

Then a misunderstanding in Whaley’s defence invited Hughes in on goal but his heavy touch gave Tattersall the opportunity to smoother the ball; another Whaley mix up & Hughes again found himself in front of goal but his shot from 15 yards produced the save of the season with a strong hand pushing the ball wide diving to his right. The signs were there, if Whaley didn’t put this game to bed it could come back and haunt them. 

Dwolitka had a good battle with Rudheaths Cameron Bradley but in one accidental challenge ended up with concussion and was replaced after 65mins by debut boy Jack Kelly. Jack looked lively and created a couple of good opportunities but not quite good enough to beat in form Shallcross. Late in the end of game Lee Morris drifted in from the left to beat three defenders but from the edge of the six yard box, in front of goal with only the keeper to beat, blasted the ball against the underside of the bar. The ball bounced out and Rudheath broke through the middle and the hard working Hughes dispatched a hard low shot past Tattersall to make it 1-2.

Whaley had a nervy ten minutes to see the game out, but apart from a Bradley header from a corner which went well over the score didn’t change. Midfielder Tom Streets playing out of position as sweeper was Whaley’s man of the match and continued his great start to the season. Whaley are still on the lookout for a centre half or right back which will help balance the side and release players to play in their normal positions.

A frustrated crowd didn’t see Whaley at their best today with too many individual errors resulting in a patchy game in which the pattern of play never really developed. Having said that Rudheath only had a couple of chances whereas Whaley had a dozen.

Team J TATTERSALL B SUTTON (1)R NEWTON (c)T STREETS J WOOD L MORRIS W BAILEY J GREGORY BURGESS R DWOLITKA (1) (65)T SCORER

SUBS A BARLOW J KELL (65) M BALDWIN

Whaley made the long trip to Malpass missing several players so young Hopkins made his debut, Morris came back into the squad. Whaley followed on from last week’s second half performance having long spells of good possession creating several good early chances. Tom Scorer was partnered with Lee Morris so a change in style ensued as Ray was rested.

So after 3 defeats on the trot, albeit a strong second half performance at Cheadle should really have produced a result, Whaley bounced back with a 4-1 win over Scott Dignan’s Knutsford.

Knutsford, as is their style, knocked the ball about with gay abandon throughout the first half but for all that ticky-tacky created but one chance and that a bit of a fluke; the ball skidding across the 6 yard line was missed by all and sundry until it reached Myers who stabbed it home at the far post on 15 minutes.

Knutsford, still in ‘control’, succumbed to yet another swift counter attack when Tom Scorer did what his name suggests, and what he has done ad-infinitum for the reserves in the last couple of seasons, and fired home inside the box giving Whaley a major lift a minute before half time.

Whaley’s defence comprised 2 or even 3 potential regular midfield players with a half fit captain Rob Newton, nominally back after persistent injury, ‘dictating’ alongside the very accomplished Street and the ever present Jamie Wood who, at left back, is to date possibly Whaley’s stand out player. The versatile Bill Sutton competent at right back and Tatts making the odd telling save.... as usual!

In the second half Whaley came out to ‘play’, Broome doing what Broome does, booked, and with Adam Barlow, Jack and Will Bailey working hard to take control of the game Knutsford eventually wilted under the pressure until on 60 minutes another Jamie Wood free kick swung in from the right went in at the far post to make it 2-1. It was all Whaley as the home side now with the advantage raised their tempo and their desire to win the game was evident all over the pitch.

Thomas Scorer converted his 2nd after coolly waltzing around the last man and the keeper to make it 3-1 on 63 minutes; this forced player manager Scott Dignan to introduce player Scott Dignan in place of Mannion in an effort to combat Whaley's drive and enthusiasm - it didn't work!

Raymond looked good; not a regular these days but nevertheless a real presence on the field and a handful for any defence as target man releasing the likes of Scorer when the opportunity arose.

Smart replaced Torbitt on 72minutes but as Knutsford huffed and puffed they lacked the spirit and drive of Whaley and there was to be only one winner as confirmed when on 88 minutes Scorer completed his hat-trick to make it 4-1.

Whaley has yet to field a settled 11, so a great effort by a team that just needs to start to believe in itself from the off!

Tattersall; Wood; Newton; Street; Sutton; Bailey; Gregory; Broome; Barlow; Scorer; Dwolitka

Res: Anderson; Galley; Burgess J.