With the weather perfect for football, Alport travelled up to Chester to face Chester Nomads. With Malpas unfortunately deciding to withdraw from the league, this fixture saw 7th vs 8th, with Nomads taking the three points in the first game of the season.
The game began in frantic fashion, leading to both sides putting in some tough challenges and a hectic start. Nomads managed to take the lead on the 11th minute, with their striker managing to break the Alport back line and poking the ball past onrushing Wenlock, which also resulted in both players colliding and the Nomads striker coming off worse off and needing treatment.
The injury led to a long delay in the game, but it also gave Alport chance to wake up and bring the game back to Nomads.
Alport created a number of chances but it was turning out to be one of those days in front of goal. R. Cooper had managed to move the ball past the Nomads keeper, with the open goal in sight, but the referee deemed it to be a foul by the Alport forward.
Alport then had some great build up play on the right hand side, giving Stockton a fantastic opportunity to bring the score level, but the ball went inches over the bar.
As the game drew towards half time, it would have been easy for Alport to give in and think the game wasn't going to go their way, but they were incredible in persevering with the task and kept plugging away at Nomads to create the opening.

Half Time

Chester Nomads 1 - 0 Alport Women

The second half saw a few changes, with Pritchard, F. Roberts and Winstone leading the line in an effort to stretch the game and give the Alport midfield more space to create clearer chances. The change had it's desired effect, with the Nomads goal being littered with chances, and it was only a matter of time before the equaliser.
The first great chance of the half came when Winstone took the ball and made an incredible drive towards the goal, beating a number of defenders, before the ball got caught up in the surface, leasing to the chance going just wide of the post. Causing menace up top, a fantastic through ball from Pritchard gave Winstone another opportunity, but for a last ditch challenge from the Nomads defender stopping the shot from hitting the net.
With the game getting more stretched, it opened up beautifully for skipper Ralphs to push forward and show the attacking side of her game that she's been working tirelessly on over the last few weeks, and she got the reward for that hard work, with a sublime strike from range looping over the Nomads keeper!
The game's final 15 minutes saw Alport camp into the Nomads half and try to find the winner, with Stockton having the last chance, but it went just wide, which pretty much summed up their luck in front of goal.

Full Time

Chester Nomads 1 - 1 Alport Women

Goalscorer(s) - H. Ralphs, sponsored by Nikki B's Catering
Player of the Match - S. Maddocks, sponsor still available

Manager's thoughts -
"Today has shown where we've come from and where we're now at in terms of standards. To come off the pitch and not be happy with missing out on winning the game just shows that we've raised our expectations and that comes down to each of the players and staff knowing what we can do and not to accept poor standards. We know where we were at the start of the season and we need to realise that we can dominate games, but we need to get that ruthless side to our game to turn these draws into wins.
I'd also just like to say I'm disappointed to hear about Malpas withdrawing from the league, being our nearest rivals, and I hope their volunteers and players remain within football, either with Malpas next season or elsewhere."
Next week sees a return to the KMJ Mortgages Stadium for Alport Women as we host Frodsham, where the reverse fixture was one of the most entertaining 0-0s in recent times, in what will be a HUGE weekend for the whole Club, with Whitchurch Alport FC looking to reach the F.A. Vase semi final! It's sure to be a terrific weekend of football for Whitchurch, so make sure to come down and show your support!