Sunday 20th May @ 3.30pm
There is an ‘optional’ item that requires an extra £10 to be brought by everyone on Sunday please. I will discuss it with you all on Sunday, so get down asap. Cheers.[br][size=1]Posted on: May 16, 2007, 03:19:55 PM[/size][hr]Witton Team;
GK - Johnson; DF - Marshall, Gregory; MF - Green, Sc.Carter; FW - Blundell(c).
Subs - Robinson, A.Knight, Crouch, Sh.Carter.
Team Rating ****
Match Rating ****
Man Of The Match - Gregory John Anthony Marshall.
Despite a much-improved performance by the boys in red and white, Witton lost on Sunday in controversial circumstances.
Witton began this match in excellent fashion, clearly learning from the mistakes they made just 7 days earlier when losing to GSE. With a tight rear-guard, and an unusually creative midfield, Witton played some excellent flowing football during the early exchanges of a lightening-paced match. And it wasn’t long before Witton made the breakthrough. After excellent approach play by Albion, young be-spectacled wonderboy Scott Carter rode a couple of hefty challenges, almost losing the ball in the progress, before rattling the ball home to make it 1 nil. This was followed by some neat play between Blundell and Green, with Blundell’s ball over the top almost being converted by Green. Moments later and the fiery midfield dynamo was returning the favour as Green headed the ball down for Blundell to volley wide of the mark.
As Witton pressed for a second goal they unfortunately put themselves under pressure, as Green hoofed a ball backwards over his head from an attacking position and the bounce favoured AFC, as their midfield managed to get a flick to it and steer it towards their attacking third. With Scott Carter outmuscled by the AFC forward, the ball was volleyed between Johnson’s legs and into the net for 1 each. And that’s how it stayed until half time.
Witton raced out of the blocks in the second half, winning a freekick on the edge of the AFC penalty area. Shaun Carter rolled it to Green, and the chunky midfield-general powered it home to put Witton back into the lead. However, again Witton managed to plot their own downfall as at the other end Blundell wandered into his own penalty area (possibly thinking he was playing in goal again like last week?? ??? ) and was struck by the ball to concede a penalty. The spot-kick was converted to once again tie the scores - 2 each.
However, Witton were not to be downhearted and still managed to fashion the better opportunities. Unfortunately it was to be AFC who struck the final blow of an entertaining afternoon. Crouch allowed the AFC defender to waltz past him and into the final third of the field. With no Witton defender tracking him back, and Robinson keeping tight to his man on the opposite side of the pitch, the AFC man was free to advance to the edge of the Witton area and get his shot off. Johnson made and excellent save, only to see the ball again fall to the attacker to be despatched into the net for 3 - 2.
With 4 minutes still to play Witton threw everyone forward, only for the referee to immediately blow for full time - 4 MINUTES EARLY. Queue scenes of astonishment from the Witton team, who felt they still had ample time to win this match. A few choice words were exchanged with the pint-sized ref, before Witton retreated to the Rowing Club to discuss the matter further. Needless to say the league have been contacted and the remaining 4 minutes of this game WILL be played in the coming weeks.