CFL CHAMPIONS & CUP WINNERS 2016/17

WBAFC were crowned Champions midweek thanks to a draw between Poynton FC & Rylands that meant no team could now mathematically catch the long-time league leaders even with some of the chasing pack still having games in hand.

With Greenhall safe from relegation & Whaley already Champions you may have mistakenly thought this was going to be low key affair, however credit to both sides as they each played some entertaining football and looked to secure all 3 points in front of a great bunch of supporters who had trecked all the way over to Warrington - probably the best bunch of supporters in the world!

A great start from Whaley included a move which included the majority of the side, starting with Keeper Tattersall and finishing with No 9 Scorer latching on to a Leadbetter cross. Tom is now top Scorer this season adding to his league and cup winners medals; a feat he achieved last season with the reserves - a remarkable and possibly unique double triple!

Whilst Whaley’s back four and midfield 3 of Barlow, W Bailey & Drayson were retaining possession well for Whaley young Farrelly was very lively upfront asking a lot of questions of the visitor’s defence. Whaley spurned several chances including a couple of set plays where Drayson’s quality deliveries just needed a final touch to complete some attractive moves but it was possibly against the run of play that Greenhall scored to make it all square at half time; Ryan Rowland hitting a long range shot that came off a Whaley defender's back changing the direction of flight & looping over Tattersall.

Greenhall came out in the second half the brighter with Hughes & Slater linking play giving Whaley a couple of early scares. Then young Sam Leadbetter got a grip of the game, flying down the wing and beating his man he created three good opportunities to put Whaley ahead but the woodwork and some excellent keeping kept the scores level. Lee Morris & Joe Burgess delivered plenty of crosses that Whaley couldn’t quite direct on target but in the end the visitors eventually broke through again; Tom Scorers initial shot was saved but the ball rebounded back off part of his anatomy and landed just over the line - a fortunate deflection in Whaley’s favour. Whaley finished their season with a decent display and yet another win making it 23 out of 30 (the no draw specialists of 2016/17!) and 69 points to make it their most successful campaign ever.

A fantastic achievement and full credit to a great bunch of players with the right attitude and to everyone else involved at the Club particularly the long-serving Committee Members and Management Team. WBAFC, a small-town provincial Derbyshire Club, is now officially Cheshire’s Premier League Champions and Cup Winners!

J Tattersall J Bailey R Newton (c) J Armstrong J Gemmill L Morris A Barlow J Drayson W Bailey S Leadbetter T Scorer (2)

Subs J Burgess T Streets J Broome B Sutton J Kelly J Gregory