Get in!!! we are top of the the league, say … ;D
Awesome result!
Another sound performance from the lads on a awful playing surface, referee was worse.
Great opening goal from the skipper firm header at the far post from a pin-point free kick from Lloyd, came out of the club a minute into the second half and Peersey had a fre kick handled in the wall, no doubts and a clear cut penalty, it had to be with this ref.
Mark sent the keeper the wrong way to the delight of the 100 or so following. They pinched a goal back on about 70 min shot from the edge of the box after a poor header out.
We were kept on our toes to the end as they threw everything at us, still not happening for Adam up front, but he did ok.
Most worrying news of the day was the Arabs scoring a goal, never mind they did let in three at the end alls well that ends well
Up the Baggies for tomorrow!
Good performance, Kearney was solid in midfield, Thornley was absolute quality upfront, and Craven showed glimpses of real ability when he came on. The only negative in my opinion is that we were casual at the back at times.
Decent performance, I’d certainly agree that we were very casual at the back at times, and I’ll repeat what I said last year, I thought we overplayed it at times, when on such a poor surface we should be keeping it simple and safe. Nevertheless, three more points, perhaps unlucky not to score a couple more goals, perhaps a touch lucky not to have conceded another as well.
Was trying not to comment on the officials, but what were they on? Summed it up near the end when, with no Albion player within ten yards, their guy on the right wing made a total hash of controlling a pass, seemed to somehow kick the ball up between his legs onto his own backside and out of play, only for that total buffoon to award Ashton the throw. It almost seemed that the decisions were made at random.
Good performance today, another 3 points that we didn’t get last season. Isn’t it nice to have played more league games than the other teams for a change! I know it means that we’re not progressing in the cups (and losing out on revenue) but the fact that we might not have to fit 8 games in 2 weeks might be the difference come the end of the season.
Some casual defending at the back, lost the ball unnecessarily at times but we must be doing something right at the back by the number of goals we’ve conceded in the league this season. Kearney did ok in centre mid considering that’s not his normal position but seemed to get caught out a couple of times. However, his presence in the middle of the park against the more physical, kick and rush type of teams could be just what we need. Think there’s goals in Thornley and Warlow, there partnership seems to be coming on well. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a front 2 work so hard over 90 minutes before.
Don’t really want to waste time talking about the officials but they were pants! Everytime I heard the whistle go I was worried about which way the decision was going to go, especially when it was in our own penalty area!
All in all, good day at the office and we’re back on top!
Echo the points made already.
I didn’t think it was a great performance by the standards we set, however I was impressed by the workrate of the lads. Despite not having his best game Kearney ran his socks off - all players will make the odd mistake and his defensive header was poor, but as I say his effort all afternoon was superb. You can only ask a player to give 100% and he did. Both Thornley and Warlow worked incredibly hard too, as did the Skipper and Pritch who looked more organised in the second half.
A combination of the ref’s decisions and the Hurst Cross pitch made this a difficult afternoon. The difference is this year that we are learning a bit more how to win games like this. We were beaten 2-1 at their place last March and in truth the game was not much different today, only the outcome!
Pretty does not always equal points - we are not going to play flowing passing football every week but it is the scoreline that counts. These 3 points take us back clear at the top. If you can top the league and not play at your best then this is a great sign. Adam can save his 20 goals until after Christmas!!!
A well fought 3 points and a deserved win. Well done to the lads.
Job done. 3pts. Men of Match - LLoyd and Baras
For us that couldn’t make it would be good to know who played where given the team, for a moment I thought we had pritch up front!
Sorry for the slight delay in posting my report but not long in, having been at a party attended by a few lizards’ supporters. What joy!!!
UniBond League – Premier Division - Saturday September 29th 2007
ASHTON UNITED 1 WITTON ALBION 2 att. 213
TEAM: Kennedy; Coo, Barras, Pritchard, Spearritt; Peers (Dillon 74), Lloyd, Kearney, Brodie (Craven 60); Warlow, Thornley. Sub n/u Proffitt.
Man of Match : Rod Thornley
With Alex Brown and Liam Brownhill out injured enforced changes saw Tom Spearritt playing at left-back with Ian Kearney operating just in front. Pocket sized midfielder Dean Craven, who was involved in the incident that saw Mike Moseley dismissed at AFC Telford, was signed and registered just 2 minutes before the 11am dead-line. This was just as well as Dorryl Proffitt remained absent from the bench and Albion would have been down to just one fit substitute.
The first serious attack came in the 17th minute when a Tony Barras clearance to Rob Lloyd was knocked onto Adam Warlow with his shot going over the bar. Two minutes later though Albion took the lead. It came following a clumsy challenge by Matty O’Neill on Lloyd near the left touch-line. Lloyd got up to lift the resultant free-kick towards the far post and TONY BARRAS got up perfectly to nod the ball down into the bottom corner.
On 24 minutes Warlow produced a lovely header to Mark Peers, the winger’s cross from the by-line was pushed out by former Albion keeper Damien Rooney and scrambled away by the lone defender with three Albion players around him. Two minutes later Warlow was guilty of missing a great opportunity when he lost his footing as he shaped to round Rooney. There was then unfortunately a period when the match officials appeared to lose the plot and Rob Lloyd found himself in the referee’s note-book for saying what the 100 or so Wittoners at Hurst Cross all felt. Three minutes before the break Rod Thornley controlled the ball beautifully on the right, when he parted with it Steve Brodie saw his shot just go over the cross-bar.
From the restart Albion immediately attacked and won a free-kick 25 yards out. Peers’ kick struck the wall but the referee spotted that Iain Howard had lifted his arm and so awarded a penalty. MARK PEERS gave Rooney no chance sending the spot-kick into the opposite corner as the keeper dived to his right. Rooney did well though in the 65th minute, saving at full stretch, when Thornley attempted a deft flick shot.
On 70 minutes though the Albion defence and Jon Kennedy were breached for the first time in 728 minutes of league football. Ian Kearney’s attempted headed clearance only succeeded in landing at Ben Smith’s feet and he quickly let fly, low through a sea of players from 25 yards and wide of Kennedy’s outstretched right hand. Albion responded immediately with Peers producing his own long range shot that went wide of the right upright. There then followed quite a bit of pressure as the home side went searching for the equaliser and it called for some desperate defending at times, although Tom Spearritt can count himself very unfortunate to have received a caution.
Craven then produced two pieces of sheer quality and if Alex Brown, as feared, is out of action for several weeks then on this showing Jim Vince has superbly and quickly filled the void. Firstly he produced a burst from the left touchline between two flat footed opponents, then outstripped a third before producing a gem of a cross to the far post that was almost converted by the inrushing Kearney, although Brian Pritchard appeared to have been fouled as he tried to get to the cross. His second piece of magic was to deliver a slide-rule of a pass behind two defenders to Thornley, the latter’s cross finding Warlow whose flick shot was claimed thankfully by a backward running Rooney.
In stoppage time John Dillon nearly got his name on the score-sheet when he sent a shot from the right by-line behind the keeper but the ball went out of play at the far post. Kennedy, for time-wasting, then became the 3rd Albion player cautioned, making it as many in this one match as in all the previous combined 11 matches. In the end though these three hard earned points ensured that, with a quarter of the season already gone, Albion are in the best possible league position!
Ashton got the highest UPL attendance yesterday.
Where was that ref from? He must have family connections at Ashton.If his performance was simply down to ineptitude then how does he dress and feed himself?
As mentioned above - poor officials, not a pretty game but points win prizes - did anyone this Alty/Lincoln/Prescot outplayed us with quality football? Unlikely but they won so lets have the 3 points!
My question is - am I right in thinking we had only 2 subs? I know we named 3 but where was he? Wheels/picko that kinda excuses me for not knowing when I didn’t hear the announcement! Is we were struggling that much its a good job we have 10 days off. I also trust presuming they were not at the match they will not be getting paid? (apologies if I missed the 3rd sub but…)
Re "the missing sub". My understanding is that Dorryl Proffitt arrived late but was unable to gain access into the ground. No doubt suitable measures will be taken by the powers that be.
Thanks Chad.
Not wanting to be sarcastic or cause trouble on here - the turnstiles weren’t open then & all gates were shut well into kick off? Having an extra sub would have given us a potential extra lift on a tiring pitch like that. :-