MID-CHESHIRE LEAGUE DIV 1 ? 28/1/2006<br><br>WITTON ALBION RESERVES 3 STYAL 1<br><br>Watched by a larger crowd than normal Albion completed the league double against the team that had knocked them out of the County Cup three months previous. On 13 minutes central defender Craig Ward was on hand to collect the ball following Danny Jarrett?s high jump, however his strong goalbound shot was blocked on the line by Caple. However seven minutes later and again it was a Rick Bailey corner that Jarrett got his head to flicking it on to the far post for WILL HURLEY to crash into the roof of the net.<br><br>Styal who hadn?t really threatened suddenly produced a breakaway in the 34th minute only for Matthews coming in from the right to send his shot across the face of Brett Walker?s goal and out at the far post. Albion still get up the pressure and when a lovely move saw Bailey clip the ball back from the by-line the visitors? keeper Vernon produced a brilliant save when he pushed Hurley?s volley over the bar.<br><br>Witton went two up on 52 minutes and it was sheer persistence from Andy Hurst in winning the ball back near Styal?s line. He cleverly played it back into the path of RICK BAILEY who thumped the ball past Vernon. Styal?s impressive centre-forward Thornton produced a fair bit of class in the 64th minute and capitalised on the midfield?s slow response when he cut across and sent a 25 yard rasping shot that cannoned down off the crossbar and into the net.<br><br>With some niggling going on and several entries into the referee?s notebook ? strange as he?d failed to caution at least three bad Styal challengers in the opening period ? Albion needed to keep their heads. This they did in fine style and within two minutes the points were secured. Bailey thredded a lovely ball through for MIKE CARTNER who in one motion swept the ball past the exposed keeper. The Albion fans who?d decided to opt out of the trip to Blyth were then rewarded with the sight of Gary Furnival coming on to play his first football since breaking his leg last Easter. Also a fine performance was the result of left midfield player Ryan Barhill, making his debut following a controversial, delayed signing from Knutsford.<br><br>With it now an 11 match unbeaten run in the league the pity is that there next league match isn?t until Rylands visit on the 18th February. No match at all last Saturday with a Mid-Cheshire Cup game at Barnton on the 11th.<br><br>Team: Brett Walker, Simon Hughes, Craig Ward, Chris Jump, Andy Parkinson; Rick Bailey (Gary Furnival 77), Danny Jarrett (Neil Murray 57), Mike Cartner, Ryan Barhill; Will Hurley, Andy Hurst. Subs n/u: Alex Lowe and Keiron Clarke.<br>