Top of the table Whaley welcomed second placed Wythenshawe Town to Horwich Pak on a fantastic spring day and with a terrific crowd to match the occasion.

Both teams looked up for it but Whaley, with a changed side, probably shaded it early doors but not without a constant threat from 16 year old winger Ash Leatherhead and striker Dougie Carroll who were lively throughout. Having said that the ever improving home defensive line up pretty much reduced the visitors to efforts from afar apart from on one occasion when the outstanding Leatherhead broke completely free down the right but rather than taking Tattersall on he opted for a square ball, this was probably the wrong decision as it gave Newton time to get across and block the shot with the goal wide open.

Whaley did create chances and deserved to go ahead on 20 minutes when Morris set the industrious lone striker Tom Scorer, 16 league goals this season, free down the left.  Driving into the area and in on goal Tom was tripped and Sutton back after an injury lay off duly slotted home his 12^th goal of the season from the panalty spot.

The second came soon after following a goal mouth scramble with the ball eventually being forced over the line by Sutton. To their credit Wythenshawe’s young skilful side continued to play some good stuff, with captain No.8 Rico Stewart leading well, but didn’t really produce anything in front of goal and maybe lacked a bit of physical presence to match the home side’s solid commitment and determination.

Whaley effectively made the game safe early second half when Captain Newton rose at the far post to meet a Sutton cross, the ball hitting keeper Jacob Luty before crossing the line; an effort he was later heard to describe as a ‘bullet header’.

However, things started to go awry for Whaley soon after when young Will Bailey received a red card for a unnecessary rash lunge; the resulting melee saw a couple of other Whaley players booked along with one of the visitors - very expensive for all concerned and totally pointless – and the visitor’s management asked to leave the field!

Having been in control Whaley were now down to 10 and under pressure for much of the remaining half hour; Sutton dropped in at right-back and Gregory, Burgess and Drayson came on to provide fresh legs. Ultimately they did succumb to a 25 yard shot that took a slight deflection causing it to swerve high into Tattersall’s top right corner and although the visitors continued to press in the last 10 the home defence stood firm to keep their title hopes very much alive.

Whaley play their last home game of the season next week against Poynton; another clash that will no doubt have a big impact on the CFL Premier League title race and is also a precurser to the Challenge Cup Final also v Poynton the following Thursday; details above.

Tattersall, Bailey W; Armstrong; Newton; Gemmill; Kelly; Sutton; Streets; Barlow; Morris; Scorer

Bailey J; Drayson; Geregory; Burgess