14/08/2018

Although Egerton set-up boldly in an attempt to play out from the back they did look shaky in the first twenty minutes and perhaps Whaley will learn in future to pressure these situations and take more advantage when the chance arises. As it was the home side did take the lead when a Tattersall clearance was gathered by Leadbetter, his early cross found the Broome who caressed the ball home! It looked like Whaley thought this might be a comfortable evening as they appeared to relax and allow a very good footballing side the space they needed to get straight back into the game when Yussuf went clear through to lob the advancing Tattersall. Egerton’s midfield three in particular looked to be significantly fitter than their Whaley counterparts who struggled to get a grip of them, however Whaley still created chances and a Gilbride cross was headed wide by Burgess just before the braek.

The second half saw Whaley start the better with trialist Hodginkson making his first appearance and looking like he meant business as he chased down the Egerton backline and linked well with young O’Donnell. For all Whaley’s hard work it was visiting centre midfield James Thorn’s wonder strike from 30 yards with hardly any back lift that put the visitors in front.

Now chasing the game Whaley created more chances though Egerton still had the majority of possession. Heading opportunities fell to Sutton, Broome & Leadbetter; a couple of goal mouth scrambles followed by an open goal miss started Whaley to thinking it might not be their day particularly as both Gilbride & Leadbetter had one on ones saved by Egerton’s McGlenaghon. Egerton had a lot more possession but Whaley deserved a point on chances alone.

J Tattersal; W Bailey; B Sutton (c); D Turner; J Kay; J Burgess; J Drayson; J Broome (1); D Gilbride; S Leadbetter; J O’Donnell

D Connell; A Hodgkinson; J Gemmell

11/08/2018

Whaley come back from 3-1 down to level the game against their long-distance opposition.

Malpass looked extremely dangerous from the off with Neil Keuno virtually unplayable in his last game for Malpas before he joins Stockport County; he was always a constant threat. Whaley went one down to a Lloyd free kick for a foul on the edge of the box but soon equalised when Drayson’s cross was superbly headed back across goal and in by Leadbetter. Keuno lurking out left was gifted too much space; he beat two players and cut inside smashing his shot home to give the home side a 2-1 lead and with only minutes remaining the visitors displayed more naivety by losing possession cheaply just outside the box, two passes later Dickin converted. Having lost their only natural defender on the day, Toseland injured after 20 minutes, the visitors weren’t exactly doing themselves any favours!

Second half and Whaley’s management decided to throw caution to the wind, now playing three at the back and sensing a potential comeback it was Tattersall who yet again produced his trademark world class save to deny Keuno & that plus Bill Sutton’s sliding tackle to stop a Ben Parry opportunity kept Whaley in with a chance. Whaley were now going for it and if anything it was the home side who looked to be hanging on with the visitors firing in cross after cross but to no avail until a dynamite Gilbride free kick hit the top corner gave them hope at 3-2.

Time was running down when a Drayson clearance landed on the edge of Malpas’ box for Leadbetter to swivell and volley home for a deserved away point. Right at the death another great chance fell to Gilbride at the back post right but his shot was finger tip saved.

With only 6 first team players available today from last season and with Langford previously & now Toesland out with serious injuries August is going to be a tough month for Whaley. However, unexpected results are cropping up everywhere as most teams transition either as a consequence of the League’s significant restructuring or some like Whaley that need to refresh the squad, their squad average age today around 21.

J Tattersall; J Drayson; B Sutton(c); O Toseland; W Bailey; J Burgess; D Connell; D Gilbride (1); G Langford; S Leadbetter(2); J O’Donnell

K O’Connell; M Baldwin

07/08/2018

End to end excitement for large crowd at Horwich Park as Whaley's super late comeback enthrals a large home crowd to earn them their first 3 points of the season.