Stalybridge Celtic v. Witton Albion

Witton face a tough weekend as they go in search of their first league win of the season.

Saturday sees them travel to unbeaten Stalybridge Celtic and a meeting with former manager Jon Macken and his assistant Steve Atkinson.

The Blues go into the game off the back of an excellent result at Bury in their FA Cup replay in midweek so they will be in confident mood.

Witton however, had a disappointing result at home to new-boys Darlaston Town who fully deserved the three points.

Cup results for the Albion have been the total opposite to their league form, and they need to start putting a run of wins together if they are not to face another struggle in the lower reaches.

Last season saw Stalybridge win the corresponding fixture 3-0 and Witton lost to a Joe Duckworth goal in the meeting at the U Lock It Stadium.

The loss of Mike Koral to Celtic has been a massive blow following his tremendous efforts for Witton but, we have to move on.

The return of striker Joe Duckworth from Stalybridge was a move that not many expected, but it’s now upto him to add the goals alongside Freddy Garbutt and Tom Hoyle.

Another difficult game awaits Ben Harrison and his management team on Monday with the visit of Runcorn Linnets but, they have to focus and concentrate on Saturday’s before anything else.

The return to fitness of another ex Albion player in Brandon Newell is pleasing to see but it’s to be hoped that he doesn’t cause us too many problems in the game.

Stalybridge have other players who can cause any team difficulties and it’s upto Witton how they deal with it in this game.

Kick off at Bower Fold is 3pm.

STALYBRIDGE CELTIC FC,
BOWER FOLD,
MOTTRAM ROAD,
STALYBRIDGE,
CHESHIRE,
SK15 2RT.

Directions: From M60. Leave the M60 at junction 24 (M67, Denton). At the roundabout join the M67. Stay on the M67 to the end, Junction 4. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto the A57 (Hyde Road).
After 0.5 miles you come to a set of traffic lights (signposted Stalybridge). Turn left onto B6174 (Stalybridge Road). Almost immediately, you come to a mini roundabout. Take the 1st exit onto Roe Cross Road (A6018), follow this road for 1.75 miles passing the “Roe Cross Inn” on the right and through the cutting (road now becomes Mottram Road). Continue until you pass the “Dog and Partridge” Public House on the right. Bower Fold is on the left opposite a sharp right turn next to the art gallery. (Total Distance - 33.0 miles).

Parking: The Car Park is next to the stadium.

Admission is by way of Card & cash payments at the turnstiles. Turnstiles open at 1pm.

Tickets can also be bought online ahead of the game at https://www.stalyceltictickets.co.uk

Admission Prices: Adults: £12, Concessions(Over 65’s & 18 Year Olds): £10, 16/17 Year Olds: £8, 14/15 Year Olds: £5, Under 14’s: £3. Please note: Under 14’s MUST be accompanied by an Adult/Concession.

Matchday Programme: ÂŁ2.50 - On sale from the stand near to the shop.

There are now four venues within the Bower Fold Stadium: Gray’s Now, The Bridge, Celtic Social & 1909.

Social Club: Grays Now is open from 1pm and is located inside the stadium behind the goal.

Alcohol is permitted inside the stadium but MUST be in a plastic beaker.

Refreshments: The Tea Bar is on the left as you enter the stadium.

Toilet Facilities: There are toilets in three corners of the stadium and also inside the Social Club including a wheelchair accessible facility.

Well it won’t get any tougher than this coming off a bad run of form (in the league anyway) but look forward to seeing if Ben and co can set us up to be hard to beat and battle for something.

Team-wise I’m am not sure what to go with but think it needs to be a back 5 so I’d go

Terry
Farrall, Ebhote, Langley, Bembo-Leta, Fleming
Brazel, Bott.
Harrop.
Garbutt, Hoyle.

That’s assuming, Jones and Lawrie are unfit.

Went for Bott because he is a bit more comfortable in front of a defence for a battle.

Good luck lads. UTA

I don’t know what you have against Ducky but he was the only one who got in a position to score the other night … and he would have had the keeper (who got red carded) not wiped him out!

I would play Ducky either in the front 2 or behind the front 2… However, Ben picks the team, so we have to be behind him not Boo him them when the team leave the pitch!

I was embarrassed the other night when I left!! No point cheering for them when they are winning!

Be careful for what you wish for …

Full match commentary will be available on https://radio-witton.mixlr.com with Iain Wright and Alex Trainor from around 2.45pm.

Match updates will appear on X @WittonAlbion and also on here as and when they become available.

Personally nothing against any player, I just look at the team and offer an opinion based on form and to a degree on results.

4 3 3 isn’t working so going to a 5 3 2 maybe an option and so a striker needs to miss out.

Joe has not looked fully fit since his return IMO and for me Garbutt and Hoyle are the better option just now, but will be great if Joe proves me wrong and gets amongst the goals again.

At the end of the day it all rests with Ben and the team, and I can assure you I was not one who booed the team. UTA

Witton team news & latest score updates will appear here as and when they become available.

Team news: Witton make three changes to the starting line-up beaten by Darlaston Town in midweek. James Baillie, Player Manager Ben Harrison & Danny Kerr all start. Joe Edwards & Joe Duckworth drop down to the bench. Josh Langley & Adam Bott are not involved.

Witton team:

Cameron Terry, James Baillie, Aaron Fleming, Ben Harrison, Geffry Ebhote, Joel Bembo-Leta, Harry Brazel, Danny Kerr, Tom Hoyle, Freddy Garbutt, Jacob Hamman.

Subs: Tom Farrall, Joe Edwards, Max Harrop, Joe Duckworth, Mamadou Djabi.

Stalybridge Celtic have former Albion players Jack Byrne & Jack Tinning in their starting line-up with Elliot Rokka & Brandon Newell amongst their substitutes. Mike Koral is not involved.

Stalybridge’s Jack Tinning fires a free-kick just over the top on 4 minutes.

An Albion corner on 15 minutes is met by Freddy Garbutt but Charlie Monks in the Celtic goal saves.

GOALLLLL

Latest Score from Bower Fold:

Stalybridge Celtic 0 Witton Albion 1.

Tom Hoyle gives the Albion the lead on 34 minutes following Jacob Hamman’s excellent through ball.

1 Like

Witton go close to a second on 42 minutes with a shot from Jacob Hamman that is deflected but Charlie Monks in the Stalybridge goal saves with his feet whilst going the wrong way.

Jack Byrne’s shot on 45 minutes isr blocked by the Albion defence.

Half Time Score from Bower Fold:

Stalybridge Celtic 0 Witton Albion 1.

1 Like

GOALLLLL

Latest Score from Bower Fold:

Stalybridge Celtic 0 Witton Albion 2.

A great start to the second half as Freddy Garbutt gets his fifth goal of the season on 46 minutes following excellent work between Tom Hoyle and Geffry Ebhote.

1 Like

Tom Hoyle had a great chance to make it 3-0 on 50 minutes.

GOAL

Latest Score from Bower Fold:

Stalybridge Celtic 1 Witton Albion 2.

Benni Smales-Braithwaite pulls one back on 51 minutes following a scramble in the Albion area.

Yellow card:

Witton’s Ben Harrison on 53 minutes.

Witton Substitution:

Ben Harrison replaced by Joe Edwards on 54 minutes.

Stalybridge close to an equaliser on 54 minutes but Benni Smales-Braithwaite’s effort from 25 yards goes just wide.

Yellow cards:

Witton’s Joe Edwards on 68 minutes.

Stalybridge Celtic’s Jack Tinning on 69 minutes.

Yellow card:

Witton’s Geffry Ebhote on 75 minutes…

Benni Smales-Braithwaite’s goes close for Celtic on 77 minutes following good play from substitute Ellis Horan.

Witton Substitution:

Freddy Garbutt replaced by Joe Duckworth on 87 minutes.