With a blistering wind and a bone hard pitch it was hardly surprising that there wasn’t a vast amount of football on show today. Whaley played against the wind and up the slope in the first half and with Lee Morris set to leave at half time due to work commitments Whaley decided to try and have a good go at Gamesley in the first half.

Chances were however minimal; George Burgess got to the bye-line on several occasions and couldn’t produce the final ball which could have undone Gamesley; Lee Morris hit a volley early on from the edge of the 18 yard box which just went over ; Dan Whelan and Bill Sutton each had opportunities from the right hand side and both were saved well by John Mitchell. Gamesley had a couple of long range efforts with Andrew Heath going closest narrowly missing the far post.

In the second half Gamesley started the brighter and from a deep free kick Andrew Heath headed towards Whaley’s far post , Josh Stevenson headed back across goal but failed to hit the empty net. Minutes later a throw in was allowed to bounce in Whaley’s box and several missed opportunities to clear resulted in an unmarked Gamesley player shooting past Tattersall from the edge of the box.

Whaley were now up against it and several players were rotated into different positions in an effort to try to unlock a stubborn Gamesley defence. Then Sam Halligan’s run was picked out by Walker and he guided the ball comfortable past Mitchell. Whaley went looking for the winner but couldn’t deliver the final bit of quality required to win games like these, Whaley couldn’t penetrate a physical Gamesley defence although it was played in very difficult conditions the game finished a draw.

J Tattersall D Whelan C Moss M Ryan (c) P Walker B Sutton D Morrison S Halligan (1) G burgess L Morris (40) D Christie (78)

Subs M Brown (40) J Drayson (78) L Prophet

Whaley guaranteed a top three finish with a last minute winner from local boy Matt Brown.

Garswood got out of the starting blocks quickest and set the tempo dominating the early stages of the game; they were first to everything and deserved an early lead though Whaley contributed with a poor goal kick that subsequently wasn’t cleared allowing Garswood’s pacey forward Jaylo in but he still had a lot to do and showed strength and composure placing his shot wide of Tattersall.

Whaley changed their shape to three in central midfield and slowly got back into the game and ultimately piled on a lot of pressure late in the half.  Dan Christie broke clear getting to the bye line before checking back but his shot was blocked on the line, the ball fell to Broome who volleyed over from 3 yards!  Sutton’s corners were causing problems for Garswood and on 35 minutes George burgess headed over from 4 yards!  Shots from Morris & Christie were again well saved by Garswood’s big keeper Benarzyk producing yet another great display.  Whaley couldn’t get the equaliser and not only went in at half time one nil down but had three casualties all with twisted ankles; although the pitch has plenty of grass on it and had sprinklers wetting the surface all morning it remains very hard.

Jace Broom was unable to carry on for Whaley so Matt Brown was introduced at the interval.  Captain Dignan had a torn calf but continued given the competitive nature of the game and Morris had his ankle strapped but struggled to run.

Matt Brown made a significant difference and Whaley now had service coming in from the left.  George Burgess and Lee Morris both had great opportunities to level but couldn’t beat Benarzyk.  Garswood’s Matty Gregory showed great inniative seeing Tattersall off his line - his clever 40 yard free kick had the keeper scrambling back and he just got finger tips to the shot pushing it on to the bar.

The game was heading into the last third when another Sutton corner was met full on by the impressive Micky Ryan and his goal bound power header was turned in by Christie who was positioned in front of the Garswood keeper.  Whaley pushed for the winner but were nearly caught out by some great individual play from Jaylo as his delicate first touch on a ball received direct from the keeper gave him a one on one with Tattersall, his shot was blocked by the Whaley keeper which kept the home side in the game.  Man of the match Sutton produced a match winning pass, splitting the Garswood defence, that was volleyed in emphatically by Matt Brown - the power gave Benarzyk no chance and give Whaley a great late victory.  Garswood were superb and were a credit to their club today but Whaley showed great character to come back from one nil and win the game with their supporters going home fully entertained.

J Tattersall D Whelan M Ryan C Moss P Walker B Sutton S Dignan (c) G Burgess J Broome (45)

L Morris (80) D Christie (1)

Subs      M Brown (45) (1) J Drayson (80) L Prophet

Even though Whaley sit comfortably higher in the table than Denton the home side would not be taking this fixture lightly given that Denton & Gamesley are as close to a derby as Whaley are going to get in the Cheshire 1^st Division..

Whaley were able to field a 4 4 2 system tonight knowing only a win would keep them in the chase for Runners up. And it was a perfect start for Whaley as a Bill Sutton corner was cleverly volleyed in at Denton’s near post by Sam Halligan. Whaley kept their shape with a central midfield two of Morrison & Halligan while Denton played a central three of Ball, Yullie & Palmer with two advanced wide players and although it’s a pleasure watching Ball & Yullie in possession it was Whaley who controlled much of the game and set a high tempo from the start.

Soon after the first goal Denton’s keeper pulled off a great save denying a lee Morris shot. Then Whaley’s Morrison and Halligan linked up to feed Morris who found Christie free in the six yard box to convert from close range. Halligan shot from outside the box and Denton’s keeper saved well turning away his goal bound effort round the post. A poor choice of pass from the impressive Moss gave away possession and from the resulting cross Denton’s Lees header looped over Tattersall. Minutes later in an entertaining half Christie advanced down the right and his pin point cross was blasted in by the advancing Lee Morris. More exciting final third football from Whaley resulted in a rare Dan Whelan goal, the right back curled his shot past Denton’s keeper from 12 yards to see Whaley finish the first half with exactly what they deserved - a comfortable lead.

The second half didn’t live up to the exciting first half and clear cut chances were few and far between though Lee Morris went close on a couple occasions shooting just wide. Sutton and Whelan worked well down the right finding Morris in space to cross early for Dan Christie to volley in from close range. A 5-1 the lead enabled Whaley to at last give Morris a rest and he was replaced by Brown on the hour.

Denton continued to try and get back into the game but some strong defending from Whaley’s back four of Whelan, Moss, Ryan & Walker and inpaticular a very impressive display of a central midfield two of Halligan & Morrison kept Denton at bay for large parts of the second half. Drayson & Christie both went close again for Whaley through some good play and fine deliveries from Matt Brown. Denton got a consolation goal as Rothwell converted a loose ball in Whaley’s 18 yard box.

Man of the match goes to Sam Halligan for a superb midfield display

Team J Tattersall D Whelan (1) C Moss M Ryan (1) P Walker B Sutton D Morrison S Halligan G Burgess (75) L Morris (1) (60) D Christie (2)

Subs M Brown(60) J Drayson (75) D Turner S Dignan