UniBond League – Premier Division - Monday August 27th 2007
KENDAL TOWN 0 WITTON ALBION 2 att. 308
TEAM: Kennedy; Coo, Spearritt, Pritchard, Brownhill; Peers (Danylyk 72), Lloyd, Brown, Brodie; Warlow, Proffitt. Subs not used Tickle & Dillon
Man of Match : Brian Pritchard
Albion’s swathe of yellow, both on and off the field, enjoyed their trip up to the Lake District for the second successive season. Indeed the way they tore into the home team was very reminiscent of last season when they established a 4-0 interval lead. In only the first minute the scene was set when home keeper Ryan Smith had to palm away a Dorryl Proffitt shot following a great passing move between Mark Peers and Steve Brodie. On 5 minutes Proffitt again caused panic in the home defence when his cross to the far post was scurried away for a corner. From Peers’ flag kick Brodie’s shot grazed the top of the crossbar.
Proffitt, who was enjoying his first start of this campaign, then saw his shot in the 10th minute go narrowly over the target. Next to try his luck was Adam Warlow when he got onto a high cross from the left by Peers but his header went agonisingly wide of the right upright. When eventually Kendal managed to apply some pressure either side of the half-hour it needed a perfectly timed tackle from Brian Pritchard just as Peter Wright was picking his spot.
Albion countered immediately though and following a lovely flowing move involving Rob Lloyd and Brodie in the 35th minute, the ball arrived at ALEX BROWN’s feet, with four defenders in close proximity he superbly made space to cut into the penalty area before unleashing his shot from 15 yards that flew into the top left corner of the net.
5 minutes later it was 2-0 when from a Peers corner-kick from the left Pritchard headed on and with a beautifully timed advance into the 6 yard box there was ROB LLOYD jumping with the keeper and a defender to produce a rare headed goal. Just before the interval Brown was on the end of yet another good move this time though his shot just cleared the bar.
Witton went close a couple of times early in the second period before Jon Kennedy was called into action twice in quick succession as Kendal at last managed to get shots on target. However it was that man Pritchard, this time in the opponents area who brought a good save out of Smith after Warlow had knocked on a Peers corner. On the hour mark newly signed Cavell Coo, with first team experience at Crewe Alex and who looks a class act, was then involved in the best move of the second period instigating the build up that saw Brown find Brodie who in turn produced a distance shot that dipped just over the crossbar.
Kendal’s left back Nathan Woods found good position following a corner but could only succeed in screwing his shot wide. Peers’s final action for the afternoon saw him flash a low shot inches past the left post. The match then petered out with Town’s only real attacking option appearing to be long balls up into the higher gradient of the field that Brownhill cottoned onto quite comfortably.
Another clean sheet and the only yellow brandished the whole afternoon was on the new chequered flags amongst Albion’s tremendous support. The total of Wittoners present being around the 100 mark and after this thoroughly professional performance the horrendous Bank Holiday journey, back down the upper reaches of the M6 didn’t seem too bad.