27/10/2018

Cheshire Football Premier League Challenge Cup

Winners in the last 3 seasons equaling the existing record Whaley come back to win on penalties to keep hopes alive of a historic and unique 4 consecutive wins!

A fit well drilled Altrincham set off like a team that is vying for top spot in the CFL; pressing to seize the majority of possession in the first half they made it difficult for Whaley’s young side to gain much of a foothold on the game. Having said that Whaley did produce more chances with a dynamic ‘flair’ front three each coming close on several occasions striking the woodwork twice while the home side were generally, even with possession, restricted to long range efforts. Whaley countered with some quick incisive football down the flanks through the impressive Dwyer and O’Donnell culminating in enough clear cut chances, that with a bit more composure and a lesser keeper, could have rendered the score 4-1 at half time - as it was it remained all square at the break 0-0.

The Broome replaced the injured O’Donnell after the break to introduce his own unique brand of football to the game; not a brand that Altrincham much appreciated with their theatrical simulation and constant noise seemingly doing them no good at all! Bolstering what had up until that point been a stretched midfield 3 the visitors readjusted to turn the tide so that it was now Altrincham who had to counter on the break, and counter they did on the hour when the right winger went passed his marker to poke the ball past an advancing Tattersall, possibly against the run of play at that stage of the game. Whaley continued to press and it’s probably fair to say that the Altrincham keeper was their man of the match making some outstanding saves throughout to deny Whaley a fair return for their efforts.

However, an equiliser did materialise some 15 minutes before full time when the ever impressive Dwyer latched on to another quality Drayson corner to smash the ball in from 8 yards…. and so to penalties. After 13 ‘perfect’ penalties that neither keeper really got a hand on Altrincham eventually skied the 14th to put Whaley through to the next round.

A fair result in the end and a very entertaining game that reflected Whaley’s return to form after a 5^th consecutive win. A long way to go yet but the signs look good with a much reduced average age group of players starting to look the part.

Man of match; Dwyer

Tattersall; Langford; Sutton (c); Kay; Gemmell; Drayson; Gilbride; Gregory; O’Donnell; Leadbetter; Dwyer(1)

Broome; O’Connell