Six bookings and a 2-1 win last season at N Ferriby would have seen us win the league. SOD the fair play league.
Well said Eli! For all the nice football played last season, we couldn’t pick up maximum points from Prescot and Ferriby. That this team has done it within a week shows the determination these lads have. A team ‘fighting’ for the title last season didn’t display half of the guts that these lads have done over the last week.
I’d take a point from the next 2 games now without being too dis-heartened. We need to be careful not to put too much pressure on this new team by expecting us to turn up and win every game - we all know where that got us last season. it’s a great foundation to build on, and in theory we should get better and better as time goes on. I also think Nige will be looking to add 1 or 2 fresh faces in the coming weeks.
It’s nice to see us shooting from outside the box more often, and we’ve seen the benefit of that over the last 2 games. A great strike from Drew, aswell as an excellent penalty. However, you have to give massive credit to Steve Settle who had a big hand in both goals. He’s really growing into this centre forward role, and i have to admit that i have been pleasently suprised by how effective he’s become (he’s a white, ginger, Emile Heskey!!).
My only concern is that we will need to tighten up defensively if we are to keep this run going. A clean sheet would be nice at some point.
KEEP THE FAITH
Great win yesterday and was nice of the players to come over (especially Coyne) shaking everyones hands at the end.
Greg Smith was awesome yesterday and i would give him MOM. Mark Drews first goal was a belter and you won’t see a better penalty.
As has been said above i would take a point from the next two games. no pressure now we have got off to a flying start.
Think we will benefit big time by the return of gary scott as he will be more solid, roll on tommorow!!
Come on the albs!
Nigel Deeleys Red and White Army…
Quote:
Robbo wrote:
Nige will be looking to add 1 or 2 fresh faces in the coming weeks
Or maybe even an old face which left us during the summer;)
NORTH FERRIBY UNITED 1 WITTON ALBION 2 Attendance 197
TEAM: Smith G.; Schwarz, Pritchard, Coyne, Donnelly; Thornley B. (Gahgan 83), Willis, Drew, Smith S. (Skelton 77); Lugsden (Thornley R. 63) & Settle. Unused subs: Thaker & Awang.
For the second successive match Albion returned home from an away venue, where last season they so crucially failed miserably, clutching all the three points on offer. That though is where the similarity in the two victories ends. Whereas the mid-week win at Prescot saw flowing attacking moves throughout this one, in the shadow of the Humber Bridge, was really ground out by steely rearguard action reinforced by flying limbs from all quarters as the team, to a man, fought and battled to preserve their slender lead for nigh on an hour.
The opening quarter of the first period saw both teams feeling their way on the lush Church Road playing surface until a terrible infield pass from Scott Willis was seized upon by Alex Davidson and quickly played square for the prolific GARY BRADSHAW to fire past Greg Smith’s right hand.
Albion’s stopper, on the half hour, produced the first of many fine saves as Colin Hunter got above full debutant Danny Schwarz to fully test Greg Smith. At the other end all Witton had mustered were a rising shot over the bar from Thornley and a promising run from Steve Settle that ended when he had to check back with no forward support present.
Suddenly though Albion stepped up a gear and in the 32nd minute, following great work from Kieran Lugsden, shielding the ball before laying it back, MARK DREW struck a blistering 25 yard shot that left home custodian Mark Wilberforce clutching at thin air.
Two minutes later Witton were leading, Settle again tormenting the defence that this time saw Liam Chapman clumsily bring him down as he cut along the bye-line. No complaints whatsoever from the home side, no caution handed out just MARK DREW stepping up to powerfully strike the spot-kick into the back of the net.
A minute before the break Paul Donnelly superbly got back to concede just a corner after a free-kick to the far right post had evaded Greg Smith’s attempt to claw away.
Albion hardly got into Ferriby’s penalty area in the second half with the only real concern for Wilberforce was an attempt from the right by Ben Thornley that just curled outside the far post. In the interim Greg Smith produced a great diving save to his right to push out Bradshaw’s well struck shot.
The wood-work then came to Albion’s rescue after Rob Northen had wriggled his way through the massed defence but then struck his shot against the base of the right upright. In stoppage time Smith again showed what a great shot stopper he is when tipping over Russell Fry’s free-kick.
In a match void of any real malicious challenges Scunthorpe based referee Robert Atkin brandished 7 yellow cards with unfortunately 6 of them coming Witton’s way that means an F.A. fine is on its way. The first card ironically went to United’s Danny Moore in the 24th minute for what was probably the worst tackle of the afternoon on Donnelly. Two minutes later, possibly keen to even matters up, Mr Atkin deemed Drew worthy of a card! Next in the book five minutes from the break was Brian Pritchard, here though the 50 or so Wittoners present in the meagre crowd, held their breaths as it appeared the skipper was last man as he clumsily bundled the attacker over. Schwarz quickly followed for the foul that saw Donnelly clear the danger.
The final three cards came in the last five minutes, two very needlessly conceded! Liam Coyne picked his up for a foul challenge but Chris Gahgan hadn’t even touched the ball in play before he kicked it away to delay a goal-kick. He did manage to redeem himself to his manager and team-mates somewhat though by heading off the line, another good effort from the marauding home team. Scott Willis was the final booking, presumably after the man in black had heard enough from the chatty Scouser!
Summing up though, 7 points from the opening 3 matches must exceed any expectations Wittoners had following the crazy previous three months antics within the club.
I’d only sign Adam Warlow or maybe Alex Brown as cover, the rest of them have shown their true colours, bottled it for 2 years and cant get a game in a division above or below where we are now.
Money is great, but surely it is better to play and earn, rather than warm the bench:P
duno that liam fella could be a handy player
I agree that all those players who chose to leave should be left to stew, even if they want to come back. They were all warned they would not find a better club than Witton, they ignored the warning and went for the money. The only player I would welcome back is MM, he was forced out by a guy who is not fit to tie his bootlaces for loyalty.
WHS.
Brilliant posting WHS, I’ll even buy extra draw tickets tomorrow off you now:laugh:
I will keep you to that Chad!!! Anyone else want £5 worth? Seriously, I will be there doing the half time raffle, though I do wish GE was still selling me losing tickets!! Graham, you are a TRUE Wittoner, time to get back to working for the Club you love.
WHS.