It isn’t too bad. It is never nice to lose but other results could have been a lot worse with Fleetwood dropping points and other teams in and around us dropping too. Maybe this will give us a warning that we aren’t invincible and i am sure we will go on another run and end up league champions.
COME ON WITTON!
5 in 5 for Vics! Players sent off that is!
I agree, we have had a fantastic run and although we lost today we have picked up so many points recently that we will be fine…
another FT score BUXTON 5 Matlock 1!!
I always thought this would be a tough one. Still, you cant win them all. It is now important that we get going again and a shame that we are in the cup on Saturday. The fishmen are still a long way behind and HAVE to win their games to get anywhere near us.
Just got back from Eastwood, happy to find that the teams around us all dropped points today. Kendal drawing with Fleetwood being the best result for us. Well, first half today saw us play some of the best football we’ve played this season. With no exageration, we could have gone in at the interval 4 up,but for a combination of good goalkeeping, poor finishing and rank bad luck! Eastwood came out 5 mins late for the second half (gamesmanship?) and had changed their game completely, they closed us down all over the pitch and began creating a few chances themselves. A game of two halves if ever I saw one. They didn’t deserve to win, but hey, we’ve had a great run, now let’s start another. I must mention the Eastwood keeper, his timewasting was disgraceful, and his antics on the final whistle were nothing short of manic. I can think of a few other sets of fans in this league who would have reacted to his pathetic screaming and punching the air. Luckily no-one responded.
Onward and upward, we were the better team and the league table doesn’t lie.
Not the same team without Adam I’m afraid. Agree with Danny the time wasting and the half-time gamesmanship were disgaceful. Every team will be up for it when they us now, but you can’t win every game and I’m sure we will bounce back.
MoM Cavell Coo
Disappointng day but we aint gona win EVERY match. Another run is now required to ensure the title. To be fair we’ve been quoting x number of wins - today wasn’t one of them. Losing there as well is no disgrace - would you have been more upset drawing at Kendal and missing a pen?
I quote andy Chad with this but we’d probably have taken a point today expecting fleetwood to win so we are actually better off under that scenario! Strange game eh.
If we had to win our 4 games in hand and accumulate around +15gd in the process I’d be a little on edge. Lets just keep our heads.
Oh "happy" new year btw way - bloody club of the month.
UniBond Premier Division – New Year’s Day 2008
EASTWOOD TOWN 1 WITTON ALBION 0 att. 341
Team: Kennedy; Coo, Pritchard, Barras, Brownhill; Peers, Lloyd, MacPherson, Brodie (Kearney 76); Wilson (Rutter 85) & Thornley. Sub n/u Dillon
Man of Match: Cavell Coo
Manager Jim Vince returned from his well deserved two week break but missing was leading scorer Adam Warlow who was laid down with a virus. His absence probably was the difference between having this match sewn up at the break having totally dominated all the opening period. As it turned out Eastwood came out, after almost a 20 minute half-time interval, a totally rejuvenated team! Scored the one goal of the match in the 56th minute and put an end to Albion’s brilliant 22 match unbeaten run. Results elsewhere though saw Witton still with a massive 12 point lead as our season reached the 5/8ths mark.
Ian Deakin in the home goal stood up well to all the shots that came his way with his first coming in the 6th minute when he held on to Rob Lloyd’s 20 yard effort. On 14 minutes Mark Peers left two defenders for dead but could only send a shot scurrying across the face of goal as Rod Thornley positioned just outside the far post waited in space. 5 minutes later Cavell Coo go to the bye-line and swiftly crossed but Kyle Wilson was a trifle unlucky when his flicked attempt went narrowly wide. On 24 minutes home defender Richard Cooper, who’d been cautioned eight minutes previously, somehow escaped a second yellow card from referee David Sullivan when he cynically tripped Dave MacPherson. From the resultant Peers’ free-kick Deakin caught the ball on his goal-line. Three minutes later Peers again escaped all his markers before flashing a shot past the near right post. A minute later MacPherson following a 30 yard run upfield saw Deakin diving to his right to clutch the ball. Albion continued to control all the midfield but all too often the final balls fell to a Eastwood player or the keeper without the presence of Warlow in the danger zone.
Eastwood went close immediately after the restart with a rasping shot over the crossbar, they continued taking the game to Witton and eventually broke the deadlock when the ball was delivered from the left and Lindon Meikle got the necessary touch to plonk the ball past Jon Kennedy from close range. Albion raised their game immediately but found it difficult to judge the pace on the downhill slope of the pitch. Wilson though did manage to control the ball and flicked it across the box but MacPherson miscued his headed attempt. Kennedy then pulled off a smart diving save to his left to deny Paul Mitchell to keep Albion in with a chance. On 65 minutes Coo smartly retained possession as two challenges came in before unleashing a shot that flashed across the face of goal missing the target by centimetres. Three minutes later Tony Barras who’d stayed forward following a corner kick saw his hard shot strike a defender but with good claims for a penalty Mr Sullivan presumably decided the hand ball was unintentional.
Ian Kearney’s introduction to proceedings saw Brian Pritchard thrown forward to supplement the tireless Thornley and it very nearly came off when Coo’s cross, after yet another good run, was hastily cleared away by the sole defender between Albion’s inrushing players. Tom Rutter’s first touch was a nicely headed on ball that was turned away to the right of goal and from a very acute angle Thornley’s shot struck the upright. As the 90 minute mark loomed Peers tried a long distance effort that Deakin held before two minutes, into what really should have been ten for the blatant time-wasting instead of the miserly three, that Mr Sullivan allowed for stoppages Peers this time sent his shot over the cross-bar.
Not a bad report however two small points which should really have read…
On 24 minutes home defender Gary Breach, who clearly thought he had managed to avoid contact with an already over-balanced Dave MacPherson was amazed when referee David Sullivan awarded a free-kick, which Deakin caught on his goal-line… Would have been harsh to send Coops off!
[quote]
Deakin held before two minutes, into what really should have been ten for the blatant time-wasting instead of the miserly three, [/quote]
Instead of moaning about what ALL good keepers do when their team is 1-0 up and the clock is ticking down, wouldn’t it have been better to salute your teams magnificent effort dropping only 8pts in the last 22 league games?
Good luck for the rest of the season… I can’t see any team catching you unless you embarked on a suicide run of almost equal proportions.
[quote]
Not a bad report however two small points which should really have read…
On 24 minutes home defender Gary Breach, who clearly thought he had managed to avoid contact with an already over-balanced Dave MacPherson was amazed when referee David Sullivan awarded a free-kick, which Deakin caught on his goal-line… Would have been harsh to send Coops off!
Can’t blame the keeper for the time wasting although it was disgraceful. The ref should have booked him about 15 mins earlier though, that might have helped the situation. As for your defender, he could not have argued if he had been sent off in the first half, simple as that
In reply to Derby Badger…we expect keepers to waste time against us, but not with 20 minutes to go which was the case with your man. His antics at the end of the game also merit comment. He ran toward the away fans screaming demonically and punching the air with both fists. His actions could have caused a riot, and it is to our fans eternal credit that no-one rose to his bait. Have a word before he comes up against more aggressive fans !
Please done take it personally.
It is something he has done all the while he has been at the club. The Telford fans were spitting blood after we beat them last season.
Being a goalkeeper is difficult at the best of times because the away fans are always directly behind you. I’m afraid a lot of todays supporters tend to think it is fun to abuse the opposition and then take offence very quickly if it’s re-directed.[br]Posted on: January 02, 2008, 12:35:46 PM[hr][quote] As for your defender, he could not have argued if he had been sent off in the first half, simple as that
[/quote]
I think you missed my point Greg.
The second incident involved Gary Breach not Richard Cooper as stated by your reporter.
The number 4 (whatever his name was) was involved in at least 2 bookable incidents, and got only 1 yellow.
The keeper was a disgrace, no arguments. You don’t do that to genuine fans who have travelled a fair way to support their team. Did our keeper do that to the Eastwood fans who travelled to our place? No.
The number 4 should have been sent, regardless of what is in the report!
The keeper went OTT but to be honest, if people are prepared to give it out then they should be able to take it.
Agree with whats been said already. I thought the referee was attrocious as he only added on 3 minutes when quite clearly the Eastwood lads wasted at least ten!! I was also not happy at being pushed by their Physio when shaking the hands of their players as they walked off. I try to accept a rare defeat sportingly but it seems some people can’t accept this so I won’t bother going to Eastwood again and hopefully I won’t have to!
Looking at the match we would have won this if Adam had been on as we lacked a bit of pace down the middle. I’m sure he would have added to his tally had he been on. Their Manager obviously out thought us in the second half as he told his lads to close us down more quickly in particular Rob Lloyd who had caused them all kinds of problems in the 1st half. Its not sour grapes but I would say a draw would have been a fair result. No good crying over spilt milk we have to roll up our sleeves both players and fans and go on another unbeaten run. We have’nt suddenly become a bad team overnight. If there is any room on the budget with the departure of Tom and Dean Crowe then maybe we need to look at recruiting another quality forward. This is not getting at our current players its more a fact that if we get injuries we could struggle in this department.
On a more positive note Alex Brown stood near us in the second half and I believe he might play Saturday so that will be like a new signing as Alex is mustard.
I think we have to be fair with Derby Badger because he at least acknowledges we have a good side and will probably go on to win the league. So lets prove him right and come back in the next league game more determined than ever to win this league!! Onward and Upward C’mon the Albion!!
Good report Chad on the Eastwood game.
I do not blame the Eastwood keeper for wasting time if thats what he thinks is best for his team but refs have got to be brave enough and add at least 10 mins for time wasting so that we get as near to 90 mins football as possible.
Next time I am driving thro’ DERBY i will not be slowing down for BADGERS
It states on the Eastwood site that their goalscorer ‘buried it with a plumb’ 
I always hate that type of fruit.
GE
Hi Mona
I also wrote the article on page 24 of our programme and praise your team there too.
The "buried it with a plumb" quote is another of mine ;D
Can I just check one thing with you? The Physio that pushed you, was he smallish, older (50’s) stocky and balding? Not that I don’t believe you, I am just surprised at Fred because he is such a gent.
To be fair it was’nt him it was a much bigger guy,thats why I did’nt hit him, (Tongue in cheek)!! I’ve forgotten it now because thinking about it if I’m stood there shaking hands with your players and they want to get in the dressing room after the game its a bit daft. I was just so dissapointed at losing our unbeaten 22 run and tried to do the right by accepting defeat gracefully. Its hard because we are not used to doing it too much this season!! I wouldn’t worry about it and I will attend your ground again but only because you Mr DerbyBadger have been on here and been reasonably fair. Good luck for the rest of the season your lads did well in the second half but we should have had the game won by half time to be honest, we’ve only ourselves to blame for that though and it might have been a lot different had our main striker been playing!!