Colwyn Bay v Witton

First Team On the Park
21

Chad will post a more comprehensive report on last night, however here is a flavour of the game for those that did not go (shame on you)!!!

Colwyn Bay 2 - Witton 2 (Penalties 2 – 4)

With an important away trip to Hucknall Town in the FA Trophy at the weekend, extra-time and penalties was the last thing Witton manager Jim Vince wanted in this game, however that’s exactly what he got!

After taking the lead on 90 seconds through a Tom Spearritt bullet header, from a John Dillon corner, Albion’s manager and fans would not have expected another 118 minutes of football at Llanelian Road nor that the story of the game would centre almost entirely on penalties.

With Warlow, Thornley, Peers, Lloyd, Brodie and Kennedy all absent, Albion gave first team starts to keeper Craig Ellison, Tim Drohan and Tom Rutter. It was Rutter’s run through on goal that led to Witton’s first penalty of the night – after being upended by keeper Jamie Speare. Dean Crowe missed from the spot after hammering his kick against the base of the post.

Colwyn Bay were back in it on the half hour – this time Dave MacPherson was judged to have handled the ball in the Witton area and John Lawless converted the penalty. The third penalty kick of the half came just 8 minutes later for another handball, John Dillon took responsibility for the visitors and coolly despatched his effort past Speare.

Former Witton boss Gary Finley made a succession of substitutions in attempt to get back into the game and his side created most of the second half chances. With just two minutes of normal time remaining Kyle Armstrong forced the game into extra time with the equaliser.

Both periods of extra time offered few chances for either side, although if not for heroic goalkeeping by Ellison the home side could have won it in the closing stage – Ellison saving twice at pinpoint range from Anthony Murt.

The Witton keeper capped an excellent performance with two penalty shoot-out saves that put Albion into the next round. Crowe, Dillon, Kearney and Pritchard fired home their penalties with precision, whilst Ellison’s saves from Murt and Williams were rich reward for his terrific display.

Star Man; Craig Ellison

Next best; Tom Rutter

22

Good result for the lads, keeping the winning momentum going! It’s great for the young lads who came in and stamped their mark and from the sounds of it one or two of the 1st teamers will have to stay on their toes with such fierce competition in place!

North-Ferriby in next round should be another we must fancy to win, have we got a full draw anywhere and how many rounds before the final?
If we get through the next couple it might be something to start taking more seriously as a trophy is a trophy at the end of the day and one we haven’t ever won.

23

The next round is on Saturday 5 January 2008, 3pm ko.

24

Although Colwyn Bay will feel proud of their performance; in real terms we were missing JK, Barras, Lloyd, Peers, Brown, Brodie, Warlow, Thornley - and playing a centreback in midfield. Ontop of that we were also without Royle and Craven, who arguably may have featured if fit.

It’s along the lines of Liverpool going away to someone like Sheffield United without Reina, Carragher, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Torres, Kuyt - and then playing Agger in midfield.

Add to that 3 yound lads making their debuts, and all in all it wasn’t a bad night’s work!

25

The positives from last night -:
Through to the next round and no injuries for Saturday for the regular lads.Well done to all the lads on the pitch including colwyn’s as it was a cold rainy awful night.

Rutter - showed promise nice 1st touch, pace, willingness to run all day, perhaps needs to realise when to part with the ball but definite potential. Well done
Ellison - made a mistake for their goal but had the bottle to put this behind him and win us the game with the double save and the penalty saves. Obviously a little raw but again bags of potential and would benefit from specialised goal keeper coaching.Well done
Drohan- Pace, can beat men, needs to work on crosses and be cooler in front of goal but again lots of promise.
The other reserves were ok but the three lads mentioned look like they could step up with a little bit more experience and coaching.

Negatives

Crowe - least said the better did not take his chance for the opportunity of a full 90 minutes. The only bright spot was he scored his penalty at the end. Sorry I can’t be more positive.
Dillon- did ok in patches but would love to see him drive forward more and his normal strength being a good passer of the ball was not evident last night. I don’t think he was convincing enough to start on Saturday.Took his pens well though.

26

Pointless really to enlarge on Rabbit’s report, he was stood next to me all night. So to compliment his piece some facts for you. One comment though after the match the actual attendance was given to us as 182 - emmmm!!!

Also where’s the story of our opponents in the next round come from? Nothing is on the UniBond site and god knows what planet the "draw" in Stocksbridge’s programme came from.

UniBond League Challenge Cup 3rd Round - Tuesday November 20th 2007

COLWYN BAY 2 WITTON ALBION 2 (Witton won 4-2 on penalties a.e.t.) att. 234

Team: Craig Ellison; Cavell Coo, Brian Pritchard, Tom Spearritt (C), Liam Brownhill (Kyle Griffin 75); John Dillon, Dave MacPherson (Kurtis Gill 75), Ian Kearney, Tim Drohan (Lewis James 58); Tom Rutter, Dean Crowe. Man of Match: CRAIG ELLISON n/b Tom Rutter & Cavell Coo

When it comes to the dramatics of penalty shoot-outs then Albion’s record now reads 10 successes from 10 stretching back to the initial one in August 1977 when stand-in keeper John Goryl saved Robbie Wheeler’s kick for Middlewich Athletic. This match saw a new goal-keeping hero emerge in the presence of former Crewe Alexandra youngster Craig Ellison. Minutes before the end of the extra-time period the only appearance on the pitch by any physio saw John Yates called on to deal with what looked like a nasty hand injury. With the threat of penalties looming worry set in amongst the 40 travelling Wittoners, however the keeper donned his gloves back on and produced a breath taking double save seconds before the referee blew the final whistle.

On then to the penalty shoot-out as the rain got heavier. Colwyn Bay scored their first two and Dean Crowe and John Dillon responded. Ellison saved well Bay’s 3rd, Ian Kearney converted ours to give us the advantage. Ellison judged correct again and pushed away Bay’s 4th kick to leave the distinction of taking us through to Brian Pritchard, confidently striding about 20 paces towards the centre circle “Pritch” turned immediately to run up and thump the ball past Jamie Speare to take us into the next round on January 5th.

It was the Colwyn Bay first team, that had won their previous three matches quite convincingly, that Gary Finlay chose to field, these included Jon Kennedy’s former Accrington team-mate Jamie Speare in goal together with the vastly experienced Mark Quayle and John Lawless. Meantime by the end of 90 minutes Albion only had Pritch, Cav and Tom of the truly established 1st team regulars still playing.

All in all then the wisdom of playing the match at Newcastle Town last week certainly bore fruit and last night we again saw evidence of the whole aura of the footballing side of the club being a repeat of the manner in which a Jim Vince team won the CSC Final against Stalybridge two seasons back.

27

All together now (sqeaky voice) ‘Brian we love you’!!! :smiley:

28

Blimey it won’t be easy against either of them. Nantwich stuffed Vics 1 nil last week and Curzon are going well. They will be a different proposition than Colwyn who to be honest I didn’t rate considering some of the experienced players they have like Quayle, Lawless Speare etc.
Fingers crossed for Saturday I’d love us to get through and get Oxford at home for a big gate. I also think we could beat them too!!

29

Never one to question his parents BUT didn’t V*cs beat us in penalties at the Central Ground - mid to late eighties?

30

OK sprog, who fed you with that?. Must have been a lizards’ fan looking for a stone to actually emerge from!

In statistical records you can not consider pre-season games and indeed on August 9th 1986 (Ah your birthday wasn’t it?) for the "glorious receipients" to get their hands on the Guardian Charity Shield it was decided to hold a penalty shoot-out after the actual match had finished 1-1 (Noel Bradley for us and Mark Ferguson for the other lot) and we thus lost this 1-3.

However this match can not be classed as a true competitive match and the only true winners that day were St Luke’s Hospice to the tune of £600 from the 605 Central Ground attendance.

31

What a terrible 30th birthday that must of been for young Andy… :stuck_out_tongue:

32

My 18th and noone fed me with that - However it appears I’m correct.

What was the Middlewich game -can’t have been as competitive as a Witton-V@cs game with 600 plus on!

33

The Middlewich game was the semi-final of the Northwich Senior Cup (now the Mid-Cheshire District Senior Cup) and therefore a competitive match.

If we start calling the three Charity Shield matches the same then where do you draw the line. Upon checking some more details the one referred to saw John McMahon & Eddie Bishop following - surprise, surprise - a brawl being asked to leave the pitch by the referee with both then substituted. So sorry it ain’t a competitive fixture in the true sense. So you at least got to see "The Big Fight" on your 18th.

34

Beautifully answered Chad Snr, how dare these young upstarts question your superior knowledge? Tut tut!!! Youth of today!!!