Barnton played very well and their keeper Barry Crellin proved to be a real character as well as pulling off a few good saves.<br><br>Only 3 of Saturday’s team played and it was a case of all our yesterdays somewhat. Not only Jon Kennedy but Darrell Dicken and 40 year old Simon Hughes. Dean Crowe ex Stoke City scored twice inc a penalty. Mike Moseley getting the scores underway 22 seconds into the 2nd half. Barnton’s consolation came from the penalty spot with Witton then 3-0 up. A certain REPLACEMENT LINESMAN - yes for the 2nd match running after the ref came off - decided that no offside but that Hughsie was then guilty of a foul.<br><br>Will post a Full report tomorrow.<br><br>One last bit attendance of just 105 (Halloween & Champs League!!) - THE LOWEST EVER RECORDED (By 1) to watch an Albion home match - Yet another record this season but this time not the right sort
Mid-Cheshire FA Senior Cup ?Rd.1 ?- ?Tuesday 31/10/2006<br><br>WITTON ALBION ?3 ?BARNTON 1 ? ? att. 105<br><br>TEAM: Kennedy: Hockenhull, Pritchard, Barras (Hughes 55), Brownhill; Dicken, Brown Alex, Brown Alistair, Cartner (Drohan 65); Moseley (Williams 77), Crowe.<br><br>BARNTON: Crellin; Sproats, Came, Allen; Douglas; Sandbach (McDonald 77), Huizer, James (Hurst 58), Swann; Tasker (Glaze 88), McCarthy.<br><br>Entertainment Value ?3 ? ? MoM ?Dean Crowe ? ?n/best Alistair Brown<br><br>Witton?s lowest ever home attendance - (106 v Trafford in Chairman?s Cup 2002) ? welcomed just 3 of Saturday?s starting line-up. Several of our squad had played in an earlier match for the Reserves, loan players were excluded from playing plus we had a few injuries following Saturday?s crude tactics from the opposition.<br><br>A few ?old faces? were back in the famous stripes, Darrell Dicken, who?d been playing for Wythenshawe Town of late, Jon Kennedy, rejoined after his nightmare ordeal at Lancaster City and the Daddy of them all Simon Hughes looking a very sprightly and indeed slender 40 year old! Jim & Benny had also secured the services of 27 year old Dean Crowe whose Football League career had seen him clocking up nearly 200 appearances whilst mainly at Stoke City and Luton Town. Loan spells with Northampton, Bury, Plymouth, York plus signing for Oldham and latterly Stockport County completing his FL career to date. He also had a spell at Leek scoring 11 times for them two seasons back.<br><br>Back from injury came Darren Hockenhull and Tony Barras whilst Mike Cartner got his first start for the club. On the bench were two of our Youth squad Tim Drohan and Dean Williams.<br><br>Alistair Brown, given a rare start, took full advantage and shone in the opening half. From Hockenhull?s driven cross he saw his diving header on 18 minutes go narrowly wide of the right upright before Barry Crellin, a true larger than life character between the Villagers? sticks, pushed away Ally?s low shot three minutes later. Barnton, no doubt due to playing in such good surroundings, upped their game and seizing on a wayward pass from Mike Moseley broke clear on 29 minutes and whilst skipper Dave Tasker?s resultant shot might have beaten many a Mid Cheshire League goalkeeper Kennedy wasn?t to be foiled. Brown again went close on 33 minutes, this time his attempt drifting wide of the left post. 5 minutes before the break Hockenhull and Moseley linked well to present Crowe with a chance at the near post but his flicked attempt went narrowly wide.<br><br>Any hopes Barnton had of surviving were dashed in the opening five minutes of actual play after the interval. With just 22 seconds played MIKE MOSELEY judged Crowe?s threaded ball perfectly to advance and calmly stroke the ball under the advancing Crellin. On 50 minutes the ball was played into the box and although it did strike Mark Came?s arm a lot of referee?s might have played on. Unfortunately for the MCL side substitute referee Rob Blinkhorn awarded the penalty kick and DEAN CROWE, despite Crellin guessing right and getting a hand to it, the ball ended up nestled in the left side of the net.<br><br>In between the goals the sparse crowd of Wittoners present felt a real case of d?j? vu. Just like Saturday a referee sustained a calf injury and again Secretary Graham Edgeley was called into action with the flag. Proceedings being held up for nigh on ten minutes on a very cold night indeed. <br><br>Moseley should have added to his very impressive goals tally on 69 minutes but he failed to get any true direction after Brian Pritchard got on the end of a free-kick and pulled the ball back from the by-line. Two minutes later though it was Crellin who produced his best save of the evening that denied the Albion striker. On 76 minutes though the outcome was decided, Moseley, taking the attention of at least three defenders, slotted the ball left into DEAN CROWE?s path and the scorer of 32 Football League goals produced a finish good and powerful enough to defy Crellin?s good attempt to save.<br><br>To give the Villagers? more credit they strived to get something out of the evening and were rewarded two minutes after Albion?s goal. Defenders hesitated expecting an offside flag with the forward well advanced, none came and Hughes?s attempted challenge brought a penalty decision from the officials instead. Dave Tasker fairly blasting the ball to Kennedy?s left showing a few Witton players maybe how spot kicks should be struck! So end of scoring but it was good to see the two Youth players on and showing their stuff and fairly impressive they both were. <br><br>The semi-finals now see Albion hosting Winsford United (Won 2-1 against Middlewich) with the other tie being between Congleton Town (beat Lostock 2-1) and Runcorn Linnets. The latter of course having recorded a massive 10-2 victory over our Reserves<br>
wo wo wo when did dicken come back?
Feel guilty about the poor attendance now as myself and Greg went to Anfield for the Champs League game. ?Had we been at Witton the attendance would of been 2 higher, and better than the Trafford game :-/