As the manager pointed out “this was not a pretty performance but today was all about getting the points” and that’s exactly what Whaley did at Ericstan Park, Wythenshawe.

Now 12 points clear of Poynton (4 games in hand), who defeated Cheadle today, and with only one game left Whaley can still be caught mathematically and so the last game may still be all important unless something happens to change the table before then.

Town’s big pitch and set-up looked great but as usual at this time of year it was bobbly but nevertheless the same for both sides. Joe Burgess made the decisive break down the left skipping passed his marker to lift a lovely chip up and over to the far post where Bill Sutton rose to head down under the keeper to put the visitors a goal up. Until then Whaley had looked comfortable playing some decent football, with Streets and Barlow working their socks off in midfield, but with the overall accent on safety rather than flair.

Subsequent to the goal Wythenshawe either stepped up a gear or Whaley sat back and ultimately, although playing more football but without creating too much, the home side did hit back to equal the score. Following a free kick the ball bounced surprisingly high on the hard pitch to give striker Wahid an unexpected free header at the far post.

Scorer continued to chase and harass alone up front on an unforgiving surface and Morris, one of the few players who managed to get the ball under, did his best to create something down the right albeit the home side hunted the ball in packs and made life very difficult for the visitors. Burgess and Sutton then changed roles this time with Sutton providing the corner which Burgess duly swept home low and hard in a crowded area; 1-2 at half time.

The second half very much continued as the first ended but Wythenshawe never really threatening and keeper Tattersall not really having to make a serious save all day. All in all not a memorable game but under the circumstances very satisfactory from Whaley’s point of view particularly with the pressure mounting at the top!

Tattersall; Broome; Armstrong; Newton; Gregory; Burgess Streets; Barlow; Morris; Sutton; Scorer

Bailey W; Bailey J; Drayson; Kelly