Whitehaven continued their climb up the West Lancashire League table with a 3-1 home win over Coppull United.
Missing a number of players because of a music festival trip and work commitments, Whitehaven relied on their strength in depth to continue their unbeaten run of games.
Whitehaven started brightly and dominated possession against a much older Coppull side, but they missed chances through Carl Denver, Josh Green and debutante Reuben Butterworth.
That came back to bite them as as totally against the run of play Coppull opened the scoring in the 16th minute through Joe Bowles.
Haven manager John Karl Benson expressed to his team the need to keep doing what they were producing – retained possession and then pressing the opposition high up the field.
This resulted in an almost immediate equaliser through full-back Aiden Smith on 20 minutes.
More dominant play from the home side ended in a goal for Denver on 37 minutes. Latching onto a threaded pass from George Frampton he calmly rounded the keeper before slotting home.
It was a very much deserved 2-1 lead for the hosts at half-time.
After the break Whitehaven again started quickly and within five minutes had scored a third goal through Butterworth.
This effectively killed-off the game which became a bit scrappy and although there were opportunities for Coppull they couldn’t take them.
Clearly the effects of a hard mid-week derby win over Cleator Moor Celtic were starting to be felt so Benson sensibly made five late substitutions to provide fresh legs.
Afterwards Benson said: “The first half was as good as we have played this season. Some of the play was so good to watch, but we’ve just got to be that little bit more clinical in the box.
“After we scored the third, the second half became a bit of a non-affair with both teams looking tired after mid-week games.”
Having established a five-match unbeaten run Whitehaven are at home on Saturday to Blackpool Wren Rovers.
It’s a key game as Whitehaven are now seventh in the table and Saturday’s visitors are a place below them, a point behind them but with a game in hand.
