Atherton Collieries vs Witton Albion (FA Challenge Cup Second Qualifying Round).

Team news: Witton make six changes to the starting line-up thrashed at Matlock Town on Tuesday night. Greg Hall, Isaac Baldwin, Nick Ryan, Steve McNulty, Tom Owens & Cesaire Lingouba all return. Jawad Jebrin, James Hooper, Callum Leigh, George Nugent & Raajan Gill all drop to the bench. Will Jones returns to the squad after injury but starts on the bench. Nathan Woodthorpe has again been refused permission to play by Crewe Alexandra.

Greg Hall, Isaac Baldwin, Danny McKenna, Nick Ryan, Steve McNulty, Will Sutton, Tom Owens, Cesaire Lingouba, Rob Hopley, Callum Saunders, James Foley.

Subs: Jawad Jebrin, Will Jones, James Hooper, Callum Leigh, George Nugent, Joshua Paterson, Raajan Gill.

Penalty to Atherton Collieries on 7 minutes.

GOAL

Latest Score from Skuna Stadium:

Atherton Collieries 1 Witton Albion 0.

Danny Lafferty gives Colls the lead from the spot on 7 minutes.

Chance for Colls on 12 minutes as Eliot Rokka’s effort is deflected wide.

Chance for Albion on 16 minutes - James Foley’s corner from the left is headed over by Tom Owens.

Witton have the ball in the net on 23 minutes but Rob Hopley’s effort is ruled out for offside.

GOAL

Latest Score from Skuna Stadium:

Atherton Collieries 2 Witton Albion 0.

Gaz Peet increases Atherton’s lead on 27 minutes curling a 25 yard free-kick in the top corner.

Albion close to a goal back on 28 minutes as Tom Owens strikes a powerful effort against the upright.

Colls’ turn to hit the woodwork on 34 minutes. Marcus Cusani with a shot off the top of the crossbar.

Albion keeper Greg Hall tips a free kick over the bar on 40 minutes before a free header goes over the top.

Another good save by Greg Hall in the Albion goal on 41 minutes as he palms away a powerful effort from distance.

Half Time Score from Skuna Stadium:

Atherton Collieries 2 Witton Albion 0.

GOALLLLL

Latest Score from Skuna Stadium:

Atherton Collieries 2 Witton Albion 1.

Rob Hopley reduces the deficit on 47 minutes from close-range after Danny McKenna’s shot went across the goal.

The woodwork is struck by Elliot Rokka for the hosts on 53 minutes, getting on the end of a low cross from the right. Albion clear their lines.

Elliot Rokka with another chance for Colls on 55 minutes, this time firing into the side netting.

A bouncing ball falls to Cesaire Lingouba 25 yards out on 60 minutes but he slices his shot wide.

Witton Substitution:

Callum Saunders replaced by James Hooper on 68 minutes.

Witton Substitution:

Cesaire Lingouba replaced by Jawad Jebrin on 72 minutes.

Third time Colls have hit the bar this afternoon as Marcus Cusani strikes the upright from 15 yards on 74 minutes.

Witton Substitution:

Rob Hopley replaced by Will Jones on 77 minutes.

Chance for the Albion on 88 minutes but Will Jones header from Danny McKenna’s cross is saved by Danny Taberner in the Colls goal.

GOAL

Latest Score from Skuna Stadium:

Atherton Collieries 3 Witton Albion 1.

Ben Conway books Colls place in the next round on 90+3 minutes after Albion had thrown everybody including keeper Greg Hall forward for a corner. Appeals for a foul on the Albion custodian are waved away as he lies injured in the Colls penalty area.

Full Time Score from Skuna Stadium:

Atherton Collieries 3 Witton Albion 1.

Attendance: 275.

Bizarre final goal for the Colls deep into second half time added on. Albion keeper Greg Hall has gone up for another late corner with the scoreline still at 2-1 and gets injured. But was it a penalty?

The referee thinks otherwise and the ball is quickly cleared downhill towards the unguarded Witton goal and Colls’ Ben Conway is able to roll the ball over the line for 3-1 with Greg Hall still crumpled in a heap on the edge of the Atherton six yard box.

So near to a Tuesday night replay, and yet so far!

Alot of Witton fans were convinced it was a foul and should’ve been a penalty.

Andrew Simpson says he wasn’t in the best position to see but lots of supporters have told him it was.

Not the clearest of views from the far end, but certainly seen them given.

[URL]https://twitter.com/ACFC1916/status/1439277456435916800?s=20[/url]

It was right in front of us and looked a clear penalty ie when greg turned in possesion and beat his man he had his leg kicked by the defender the Atherton fans by us also agreed it was a pen ! That said Atherton deserved to win, had more chances, created more, were fitter and stronger on the day We huffed and puffed second half yes but not enough in midfield and poor at the back was the main difference between us plus they looked a lot fitter overall, badly missing Josh and We need a tough midfielder to replace Smart.a lot of work still to do.

100% a penalty at the end but even if the referee can’t see it, what does the linesman duties entail now? He was stood 10 yards away with a clear view and just ignored the foul. We deserved a second chance on Tuesday but incompetent officials have cost us. I was talking to Billy Smart and he is having an operation next week which he is paying for himself, it would be good if instead of having a bucket collection every week for the pitch (which I never understand anyway). Maybe between now and Christmas all the bucket collections go towards helping Billy pay a rather large medical bill.

The pitch bucket collection is very important to the groundstaff who maintain the pitch. It pays for regular maintenance needs and for the large off season bills we have, when treating the pitch. A collection for Billy would be good but it would have to be in addition to the pitch collections. UTA