On the subject of match reporting etc and after reading the printed version in today’s “The Non-League Paper” I really think I need to post my exact article that was submitted to them around 6pm yesterday.
WITTON ALBION 2 FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER 1
att. 1,030 Entertainment 5/5 Star Man Brian Pritchard (Witton Albion)
In a pulsating encounter Albion finally laid to rest their wretched home league form that had seen them lose their previous seven matches at Wincham Park. In all fairness though the win came courtesy of goals in the last minute of both halves whilst FCUM, for whom victory could have given them a play-off position berth, cursed the woodwork on at least five occasions.
The opening 20 minutes saw the visitors, roared on by over 600 travelling fans who were enjoying a rare Saturday away match, take the game to Witton and it needed a deflection off skipper Brian Pritchard’s knee to stop them taking the lead. In a rare Witton attack FCUM keeper Sam Ashton was mighty relieved when his attempted clearance was intercepted by Neil Black but the striker just unable to keep the ball in play. On loan Ashley Dunn produced a great attacking run in the 32nd minute but his decision to shoot when support players were well placed gave Ashton an easy save.
The crossbar then came to Albion’s rescue as Rob Nugent headed in from a corner-kick. Two minutes from the interval Witton left-back Danny Warner produced a brilliant cross from the left that needed a timely header at the far post to concede the corner. However Warner ran across to take the flag-kick and superbly picked out LEE THOMPSON who headed powerfully past Ashton.
Ten minutes into the second-half it was the woodwork that this time denied Albion extending their lead. Kieran Lugsden picking Neil Black out only for his headed attempt to rebound off the top right-hand angle. Just two minutes later the gathered hoards were in full voice to acclaim TRISTAM WHITMAN’s equaliser as he seized on space afforded him and from a central position advanced before prodding the ball past the advancing Greg Smith.
The League’s leading scorer Kyle Wilson, a player at Witton 12 months previous, saw his effort on 71 minutes strike the left upright before rolling right across the goal-line and out at the other post. 11 minutes later Whitman was denied his second of the afternoon when his shot crashed back off the upright.
In the final minute of normal time a crude foul, near the right touch-line, by Dave Neville gave Kieran Lugsden the opportunity to hit the subsequent free-kick deep into the area and there was NEIL BLACK who, although looking to have been fouled, had the presence of mind to stick out his foot with just enough contact for the ball to roll ever so gently over the goal-line to send the Wittoners into raptures. They then had to hold on throughout the six additional minutes to record a great victory in their quest for Premier Division survival.
