Alton Town 2 Whitchurch United 4

IT’S amazing what a goal can do for a side. Whitchurch were anchored at the foot of the JWL without a goal or a point in their previous four matches but Brian Drury’s side put that right with a four-goal salvo against newly- promoted Alton Town at Anstey Park on Tuesday night.

“It’s just like the buses, none for ever and then four in a row,” said the delighted Whitchurch boss after two goals from skipper Dean Robinson and one apiece from Mark Drury and Marc Rees gave them their first JWL points of the season.

What caused the transformation? “All of a sudden we had a few players who were totally committed and also had a change of luck,” added Drury.

Whitchurch, with Reading University youngster Lee Thomas making his debut in defence, had the worst possible starts with them falling behind after 15 minutes with ’keeper Dave Smalley picking up a back pass from Marc Rees and Alton smashed home the resulting free kick from five yards.

However, the goal acted as a spur to Whitchurch as they hit back with two goals from Robinson before the break – both from open play following some excellent inter-play between the veteran striker and Mark Drury.

Alton hit back strongly at the start of the second half and equalised on 55 minutes but Whitchurch never gave up and regained the lead with 15 minutes left through Mark Drury and 10 minutes from the end clinched the points when Joe Poole planted a free kick on the head of Marc Rees for the midfielder to head home.

Whitchurch United (4-4-2): Smalley; Pitts, Poole, Thomas, Fox; Iddles, Somers, Rees, Penkethman; Drury, Robinson. Subs: Monaghan (for Thomas 40 mins), Brooks (for Penkethman 60 mins).