I have to say after being quite “Bullish” about our chances in this league I feel I have to admit we are not quite good enough to be more than a top 8 side. No complaints about the effort but we were beaten by a better side who took their chances when we didn’t, we still can’t score from the spot. Had the ref given the obvious penalty in the first half perhaps the result might have been different but from then on we were second best.
WHS. .sick
Absolutely gutted with todays result. ok ashton took their chances but we were dominant in the first half and how we went in at half time all square i’ll never know! two stone wall pens turned down again ( not that we’d have scored them) but where do they dig these officials up from?
Well, that was disappointing. But, to put it into perspective, we’ve only lost a football match.
For decent parts of the first half we played some excellent football. Possibly just shaded it, but didn’t get the goal we needed.
Once Ashton scored there was only 1 winner i’,m afraid.
But like i say, it’s just 1 game of football.
There have been more significant Witton losses in recent days and weeks.
On the positive side, thanks to Pritch for allowing us access to Ste Conners and Joe Shaw today to help us hand out the Junior Supporters packs. It’s been a huge success, and we’ve had more people signing up again today. The long-term benefit to the Club of having a thriving Junior Supporters Club cannot be quantified.
So, a bad day at the office. But it’s just like this squad of players to come back and win at Fylde on Tuesday.
We’re still on for a respectable mid-table finish, so no need to worry.
First-half I thought we were quite good, created a few chances and looked on top.
Second-half I thought we were poor. Our inability to keep a clean sheet worries me.
Did anybody actually expect us to score a penalty?
If we had some ****** who could score a ******* penno we would still be in the ******* FA cup and we might have got some ******* thing out of that ******* game today an all!!!
Thats not against any one player in particular, I thought we’d cracked it with Gards and he was very unlucky with the one against FCUM there was nowt wrong with the strike just the keeper made an inspired stop. Obviously Gards didn’t want to take any more and thats fair enough…
Bit harsh Marston, I’m sure Tucker is disappointed enough without somebody singling him out.
Edit: Nicely done 
dont forget gards had been subbed by the time we got the pen but yeah hes got to be the spot kick man for me!
I don’t understand the penalty thing… bangwall
(Can we get a “scratches head” icon?)
I dont get it either mate. fink thats 3 this season and i lost count last season.
If i can just add to my earlier post;
Thanks to the former Junior Albs who contributed to this week’s programme.
And HUGE thanks to Jamie for allowing us so much space in the programme to cover off the Juniors today. Very much appreciated.
[quote=“Robbo_” post=46627]I don’t understand the penalty thing… bangwall
(Can we get a “scratches head” icon?)[/quote]
[quote=“Robbo_” post=46627]I don’t understand the penalty thing… bangwall
(Can we get a “scratches head” icon?)[/quote]
Once again, well done Robbo on a great idea that seems to be paying big dividends. As for the penalty thing can I make a suggestion? Ask who wants to take them and whether they miss or not they continue to take them for the rest of the season, it might take a bit of pressure off. I nominate Mr. Tuck, he will never take a worse one than he took today. I have great faith in the lad, he’s having a bit of a bad time but as they say “Things can only get better”.
WHS.
Were were mugged - aided and abetted by some poor referreing, especially in the first half. That said we have to learn that we must take our chances when they come and perform consistently over the 90 mins. I think Ashton will be quite smug getting 3 points they really didn’t derserve.
For me though it was all about the ref and it shouldn’t be like that.
Didn’t take our chances and switched off twice and got punished for it. Thought Ashton were very well organised but nothing special. Thought Ormesher gave us something different when he came on. Would still like to see Andrews and Hancock switch from time to time especially when we bring on someone like Ormesher. Thought launch of the junior albs was a great success great to see so many kids at the game. Also liked the former junior albs part in the programme. Well done to all involved.
UTA
I actually thought Ashton were worthy winners, they were very disciplined, pressed us in possesion and the no.8 ran the game for them, we never really got a grip in centre midfielfd we played well in patches but theyn were simply better than us today imo.
The two penalty shouts, 1st half cannot believe the handball wasn’t given, the 2nd one on Gards was blind side to both officials and despite it being a stonewall I can understand it not being given.
Lets not forget the free header that they should have scored 1st half and I can’t remember us forcing their keeper to make too many saves.
Well done on the Junior Albs initiative, decent crowd - highest in the league, we’re 4 points off top and 11 points off the relegation places, but having only played 2 of the top 8 sides so far. Hardly a train smash and would have settled for this position before the season started!!!
UTA
Cannot understand those blaming the referee. Wasn’t him who wasn’t closing opponents down, giving them time on the ball and generally being “up for it”
Big lesson to be learned that no matter how skillful you are, if the opposition are more determined, they will win. We no doubt have very talented players, but more hard work needs to be done when we don’t have possession. We didn’t deserve to win, Ashton did.
The penalty crisis continues!
I have to say I fully agree with the two posts above. Anybody blaming the referee for this defeat is merely clutching at straws. Whenever we get beat, that’s always the excuse. Yes referees make bad decisions, but they make them for both teams. The luck usually balances itself out over the season anyway.
Just a very brief mention to those involved in the relaunch of the Junior Albs; you are an absolute credit to this club. Young supporters are the future. Well done.
I agree that ultimately Ashton were worthy winners and produced two pieces of quality that turned the match in their direction - excellent cross for the first goal and a superb finish for the 2nd. From a Witton perspective both goals began with us giving possession away cheaply and then a series of errors contributed… but credit to Ashton they were both good goals.
As to the game as a whole it really it is - “is the glass half empty or half full” ? Up until the Ashton goal there had been little between the two teams with Witton having more possession and looking overall the more likely to win the game. Sure Witton were not at their best collectively or individually but they were knocking on the door and up until the final third or final ball were carrying a more consistent threat than Ashton. But goals change the flow of a game and once Ashton got their first one Witton looked deflated and lacking the collective belief and cohesion to turn it round.So while they huffed and puffed they never really created the quality when they needed to find it around the penalty area. Had the referee awarded one of the two possible penalties in the first half and we scored then who knows but we didn’t … had we scored the penalty with 5 minutes to go could we have turned it round and salvaged a draw ? Possibly … it certainly would have made it a very interesting last few minutes but we didn’t and it ended in an excellent win for Ashton and a very disappointing result for us.
But the next 3 weeks will really be the litmus test for where we are with a run of midweek fixtures and games against some of the early form teams.
The team need to dig in get a result on Tuesday and then go again and learn the hard lesson that when you don’t take your chances or capitalise when you are in the ascendancy you have to concentrate and be even more resolute in defending or you get punished !
Thought Ashton were very well organised at the back, had an excellent keeper, and hit us on the break twice. Not rocket science but very effective, felt abit mugged yesterday but in hindsight their game plan worked perfectly. Can’t fault our effort yesterday, just a bad day at the office.
As for the penalty situation can we not politely decline the next one we get and ask for a free kick or corner instead? Abit like a swap on Brucies play your cards right. Not sure that’s within the football rules but it should be either that or give Coops a go now .argument