Witton make the short journey to Hallmark Security League neighbours Barnton FC on Wednesday night in the Cheshire Senior Cup First Round. The fixture gives both teams the chance to continue their recent impressive form whilst Witton can cast an eye over a few of their fringe players who haven’t had much playing time in recent weeks. Both teams will want to progress in the competition but other challenges lie ahead. That’s not to say that they won’t take it seriously, local pride is at stake and the chance for The Villagers to cause an upset. Should the game be drawn after 90 minutes, it will then go to extra time and then penalties if necessary. Kick off at The Hinchliffe Holmes Stadium is 7.45pm.
The only good thing about this game is it is one of Rob Hopley’s 3 game suspension. Otherwise its a game I don’t really want us to play and don’t want to win as it will add further fixtures to an already bursting schedule (same for mid cheshire cup). You can’t tell a team not to try, can you? It feels wrong, it is wrong, goes against the grain - but does anyone seriously in their heart of hearts want us to win?
The local FAs need to wake up and allow clubs to forfeit games in extreme circumstances. This would ensure that spectators are not paying to watch a charade, which is what this game could be.
I hate it when we lose a game, but I can’t say I will lose any sleep over this one,
I kind of empathise with you here Knutsfordian. We still have 26 league games to play with 3 and a half months to go so roughly say 17 or 18 weeks so it definately means at some point we will be playing important league games twice a week. The worrying factor is that winter is not over yet so possibility of some future games being postponed further complicating the situation. Thats why its important now for our lads to learn that we certainly don’t want unnecessary sendings off and bookings weakening an already stretched squad. I tend to agree don’t want us not to win this game but I’m sure Carl will not risk the majority of the 1st team. It would’nt be great if we suffered more injuries, its a hell of a dilema but our management team are sensible and will make the right decisions 'm sure and as you say one less game for Rob Hopley.
Disagree. I love this competition, partly because one of my earliest memories is watching us beat the shit 1-0 at Gresty Road in 1978 but more practically, we should take this seriously because I don’t have a lot of time for the argument that young men between 20 and 30 years old ‘‘need a rest’’. The league is our priority, of course but who amongst the readers of this forum wouldn’t be delighted if they were in their prime of their youth and being picked (and getting paid) to play two games a week for Witton? Put a decent side out, win the game, win the cup then buy a massive hording on the edge of town and stick a picture of us with the cup and the tagline ‘’Welcome to Witton, home of the Champions of the County!’’ on it.
Normally Id be with you on that with the Cheshire senior cup but as it is - we have a very good team of 11-12 players but a pretty thin squad the amount of games we have coming thick and fast from now till the end of the season is very demanding and to win the league is possible but tough, we cannot afford to lose players competing in a cup like this, they might be ok to play 2 games a week but we will suffer injuries and its that risk we have to consider. UTA
I don’t understand this ‘modern’ idea that cups aren’t worth bothering with. I would love to win the Cheshire Senior Cup again, some of my best memories are in that comp. When we romped the league our players played over 50 games. Footballers needing rest? Dont make me laugh. Win the cup.
[quote=“The Albion Tea Hut” post=68351]I don’t understand this ‘modern’ idea that cups aren’t worth bothering with. I would love to win the Cheshire Senior Cup again, some of my best memories are in that comp. When we romped the league our players played over 50 games. Footballers needing rest? Dont make me laugh. Win the cup.[/quote] That was then, this is now, over 60 years have passed. A Cheshire Cup game then could have been rewarding financially with a large attendance, but not so now. As we are trying to get out of this league, hopefully upwards we need as many of our players available, and it’s just not worth the risk of losing any to injuries or suspensions in a competition that was important over 60 years ago.
as we stand we must play every Saturday and every Tuesday with about 2 vacant dates until the end of the season, so if we win we will get another game that results in a deferred league game (CSC takes priority) so at some point we will be playing 3 games per week. for me promotion is everything this year, another year CSC maybe. Too many rubbish games now that we don’t need to play will cost us later.
I think normally the team train twice a week so just one training session becomes a match each week. Wheels, I cannot thank you enough for what you do on here.
WHS.