Witton Albion Academy Under 18’s Pre Season Friendlies. HOME GAMES IN CAPITALS. Away games to be played at clubs main stadium unless stated.
SATURDAY, 5th JULY - AFC ALSAGER - 10.30am. (Middlewich Leisure Centre).
MONDAY, 7th JULY - Newcastle Town U18 - 7.30pm.
SATURDAY, 12th JULY - Hartford FC - 2pm. (Moss Farm).
SUNDAY, 20th JULY - Flint Town United U19 - 11am.
SUNDAY, 27th JULY - Blackpool Wren Rovers U18 - 11am.
SATURDAY, 2nd AUGUST - Airbus UK Broughton U19 - 11am.
The Witton Albion Academy U18’s pre season friendly against Whitchurch Alport U18’s scheduled to be played on SATURDAY, 5th JULY has now been cancelled as the opposition have pulled out of the fixture.
The Coaching Staff are currently trying to arrange another game to replace it but nothing has been confirmed at present.
Witton Albion Academy U18’s will now be playing AFC Alsager on SATURDAY, 5th JULY with a 10.30am kick off.
Please note: This fixture is being played at Middlewich Leisure Centre.
Pre Season Friendly
Match Report: Witton Albion U18s 1–4 AFC Alsager
Sunday, July 5th, 2025
Witton Albion U18s faced a stern test on Saturday as they took on AFC Alsager — an experienced adult side from the Staffordshire Premier Division — for the first time in their history. Despite the 4-1 scoreline, Albion’s youngsters put in a spirited and impressive performance against physically stronger opposition.
The game saw a fairly even share of possession, with Witton creating 15 efforts on goal and frequently demonstrating sharp, intelligent build-up play. Their movement and passing were notably slick, with several promising patterns of play that stretched Alsager’s defence.
However, it was Alsager who struck first, converting from the penalty spot to edge in front. They doubled their lead shortly after with a composed finish following a breakaway.
Witton responded well, winning a penalty of their own, which was confidently dispatched to halve the deficit. At that point, the momentum looked to be swinging towards the U18s — but Alsager capitalised on a lapse at the back to restore their two-goal cushion before the break.
Shortly after half-time, Alsager sealed the game with a fourth — again taking advantage of a momentary lapse in concentration.
Despite the scoreline, there was much to admire in Witton Albion’s display. The young side showed real quality in possession, never shied away from the physical challenge, and matched their senior opponents for large spells of the game. It was a valuable experience and one the players can be proud of, having shown courage, discipline, and flashes of real technical promise.
Final Score:
Witton Albion U18s 1 – 4 AFC Alsager
(Albion goalscorer: Jack Hill)
Plenty of positives to take forward as the team continues to develop and test themselves against tougher opposition.
Match Report courtesy of Chris Appleton.
They are in action again on Monday night when they travel to Newcastle Town for a 7.30pm kick off.
Match Report: Newcastle Town U18s 3-2 Witton Albion U18
Monday, 7th July.
Witton Albion U18s faced a stern test as they travelled to a cold and windy Stoke to take on a strong Newcastle Town side, widely regarded as one of the top sides in the division.
The match presented a very different challenge compared to the weekend fixture. Newcastle, known for their technical quality and consistent success, started with intensity, and Witton took a few minutes to find their rhythm. Despite a slightly slow start and pressure from the home side, Witton grew into the game well.
The breakthrough came midway through the first half, with Joe Eglin applying smart pressure that forced an own goal from Newcastle and handed Witton a deserved lead.
From that point, Witton looked composed in possession and managed Newcastle,so attacking spells well, going into half time 1-0 up.
However, for the second consecutive game, Witton conceded immediately after the restart, a lapse that allowed Newcastle to draw level. The hosts then capitalised on another avoidable to take the lead shortly afterwards.
To Witton’s credit, the response was immediate, Joe Eglin, continuing his excellent performance, was rewarded with his first goal for the club to level the match at 2-2.
The game remained competitive, with both sides having chances, but Newcastle found the winner through a well taken free kick - ironically awarded for a shirt pull, one of the few such calls given all game.
While the result didn’t go our way, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance, including strong spells of possession and resilience in response to setbacks. There’s still plenty to work on, but the signs of progress are clear.
Thank you to all the players, staff and supporters who made the journey.
Match Report courtesy of Chris Appleton.