The day we have all been waiting for...Matchday!! Whitegate returned to action for the first time in 2021 at home against Williaston Vets.

 

Whitegate dominated the first half playing out from the back, their great attacking football causing the visitors lots of problems throughout the first half, but they were unable to take their chances with Danny Vickers hitting the outside of the post, Kev Beresford forced the keeper into a good save and Adam Foy saw his free kick go close. 

 

A well organised centre back partnership of captain Martyn Boaler and Robbie Allen stopped Willaston from a shot on target in the first half, but the sides went in at the break with the game goalless. 

 

The pattern of the game continued into the second half with Whitegate controlling the game. This time Vickers bypassed two defenders down the right wing but he couldn’t find a teammate in the middle. 

 

Against the run of play it was the away side who took the lead. A corner was cleared away, but the ball dropped to a Willaston man on the edge of the box, who had time to pick out the striker in the middle, with too much space and a question of offside he found the bottom corner with his header. 

The home side didn’t let falling behind affect them as they remained on top with Sam Ellwood seeing his shot from distance rise over the bar. 

 

After going ahead the visitors dropped deeper and deeper into their own half with the hope of holding on to their lead. This encouraged Whitegate’s full backs to push forward, left back Jonathan Bownes showed his burst of speed down the left wing, but his cross flashed across the goal with only a touch needed to level the game. Finally the pressure told on the visitors, a great move which started from the goalkeeper saw Ollie Emmerson find Foy who fed Vickers out wide, he cut back inside an unleashed a rocket into the top corner 1-1 game on! 

 

The ascendency was with the hosts and after drawing level they pushed on for a winner! It came 15 minutes from time. Another excellent move from Whitegate saw Lewis Williams take the ball on the edge of the box and play a delightful through ball to Ellwood who was able to hold off the defender before smashing the ball into the far corner! 

In previous weeks the final 15 minutes would of been a nervy finish but as they had done all game Whitegate moved the ball around well, creating further opportunities to extend the lead. But two goals was enough, the visitors didn’t have any further chances after their goal! 

 

A great performance from Whitegate after four months with no game! Some excellent football played out from the back with Adam Foy, Jack Lanceley and Lewis Williams controlling the game in midfield. 

 

Our manager Gary Yeoster is a man of many words but he only needed five to provide his thoughts on the game! “It’s great to be back!”