Vauxhall Motors v. Witton Albion

With an excellent pre season behind them, Witton begin their Northern Premier League West Division campaign with a trip to Vauxhall Motors on Saturday afternoon.

One defeat from seven pre season friendlies has prepared Jon Macken’s squad in the best way possible as they go in search of honours.

Being able to keep the majority of last season’s squad together has been of great benefit and with a number of additions, competition for places will be very strong.

Midfielders Jordan Barrow and Sam Billington have moved on but Witton have secured the likes of Oli Roberts, who is highly rated and the experienced Tom Pope who will add a goal threat to the attack.

Pre season also saw the welcome return of Connor Hughes albeit briefly following a six month lay off due to injury, a welcome boost for everyone.

Vauxhall Motors returned to the Northern Premier League system, following an excellent season which saw them crowned North West Counties League Premier Division Champions.

The two clubs haven’t met in a league game since the 2000/01 season, the season that saw the Motormen promoted to the National League North.

The game at Witton saw Motors win convincingly by a 4-1 margin but the return game at Rivacre Road saw Albion come away with a point courtesy of a Ray Wallace goal.

Witton will be full of confidence going into the season’s opener and will be looking to start the season in a positive manner.

Kick off at the VanEupen Arena is 3pm.

VAUXHALL MOTORS FC,
THE VAN EUPEN ARENA,
RIVACRE ROAD,
ELLESMERE PORT,
CHESHIRE,
CH66 1NJ.

Directions:From the M6 / M56
Exit M6 at junction 20 and M56 at junction 15 sign-posted M53 Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead. Exit the M53 at junction 5. Take the 1st exit off the roundabout (sign-posted A41 Chester). At the first set of lights turn left into Hooton Green. At the ‘T’ junction turn left into Old School Lane. At the next ‘T’ junction turn right onto Rivacre Road. The ground is on the right hand side.

Parking: The Car park has spaces for 300 vehicles near to the Social Club.

Turnstiles should be open from 1.15pm - Admission is by way of Card & Cash payments at the turnstiles.

Admission Prices: Adults: £8, Concessions: £5, Under16’s: £2.

Matchday Programme: £2.50 on sale at the turnstiles.

Social Club: The Social Club is a two-storey building next to the pitch which has a large function room on the first floor. The ground floor has a fully licensed bar and also has TV showing sports. Card payments are accepted at the bar.

Please note: Alcohol is permitted outside the Social Club building but MUST be in a plastic beaker. Cans are NOT permitted outside the Social Club building.

Refreshments: The Tea Bar is incorporated inside the Social Club on the Ground Floor.

Toilet Facilities: The Social Club has toilet facilities on the Ground floor including wheelchair accessible facilities.

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Looking forward to it greatly! Be good to see if we can carry our good pre season form into the game.

It will be tough as Vauxhall seem on an up curve, let’s hope for 3 points. UTA

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Yes C.J., I am looking forward to this game as well. If we play as well as we have done in pre season, we should come away with 3 points.

We are a good team playing lovely football.

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Best of luck for the season lads. Let’s hope for good football, lots of goals and lots of victories, starting today :soccer:.

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

Team news: Midfielder Oli Roberts & striker Tom Pope make their competitive debuts for the Albion. Four newcomers also on the bench with Aarron Grewal, Dan Yates & Harry Cain alongside Joe Mwasile who returns for a second spell at the club. James Lawrie is not involved whilst Taylor Kennerley and last season’s topscorer Joe Duckworth serve bans carried over from last season but Connor Hughes returns to the squad after a six month injury lay off.

Witton team:

Ollie Martin, Mike Koral, Lee Jackson, Ben Harrison, Oliver Hitchcox, Oli Roberts, Elliot Rokka, Ryan Baxter, Tom Pope, Cameron Fogerty, Kingsley Williams.

Subs: Aarron Grewal, Joe Mwasile, Dan Yates, Harry Cain, Connor Hughes.

Former Albion winger George Nugent is named amongst the Motormen substitutes.

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GOAL

Latest Score from The VanEupen Arena:

Vauxhall Motors 1 Witton Albion 0.

Conor Harwood gives the Motormen the lead on 7 minutes heading home Michael Burkey’s cross.

Witton thought they had equalised on 27 minutes as Ben Harrison’s header appeared to have crossed the line but nothing given.

PENALTY to Witton.

Ryan Baxter is brought down in the Motormen area.

GOALLLLL

Latest Score from The VanEupen Arena:

Vauxhall Motors 1 Witton Albion 1.

Kingsley Williams equalises from the spot on 42 minutes.

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Half Time Score from The VanEupen Arena:

Vauxhall Motors 1 Witton Albion 1.

Settle for going in level at the break after going behind so early.

Could be worse… imagine conceding four goals in the first half of the first game of the season :joy:.

GOAL

Latest Score from The VanEupen Arena:

Vauxhall Motors 2 Witton Albion 1.

Michael Burkey restores the Motormen’s lead on 46 minutes beating Ollie Martin in the Albion goal after being sent clear by Lewis Buckley.

Witton Substitution:

Ryan Baxter replaced by Connor Hughes on 59 minutes.

Witton Substitution:

Mike Koral replaced by Harry Cain on 68 minutes.

Today’s Attendance: 261.

PENALTY to Witton.

Tom Pope is brought down by Motors keeper Sam Booth.

GOALLLLL

Latest Score from The VanEupen Arena:

Vauxhall Motors 2 Witton Albion 2.

Kingsley Williams equalises on 90 +3 minutes with his second spot-kick of the afternoon.

Full Time Score from The VanEupen Arena:

Vauxhall Motors 2 Witton Albion 2.

A point on the opening day.

I feel a whole lot happier than I did a few minutes ago!

Undeserved point by all accounts.

I will take that point we did not really get started Vauxhall we’re strong in midfield and at times first to the ball having said that we battled on.

From a corner Ben definitely scored all the ball was over the line we will play better than that. Onward and upward.

Deserved a point, not a good performance but we will definitely get better.

My Dad and I were stood in line with the goal line and the official was stood right next to us . The ball was a yard over the line and that’s not an exaggeration. Shocking decision . The standard of officiating appears to be no better.

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