Sunday 3rd June 3pm.
Follwed by a friendly V GSE.[br][size=1]Posted on: June 02, 2007, 05:26:53 PM[/size][hr]Witton Team;
GK - Johnson; DF - Marshall, Robinson; MF - Green(c), Sc.Carter; FW - Haspell.
Subs - Crouch, Sh.Carter.
Team Rating ****
Match Rating ****
Man Of The Match - Thomas Archibald Green.
A depleted Witton squad could of been forgiven for thinking ‘Oh No, not again’ when going behind to an early goal this afternoon. However, with the increasingly-dependable Greg Marshall finding the perfect defensive partner this afternoon in player-manager Mark Robinson, Witton rallied to produce a second half of football that came so close to yeilding the win they so truely deserved against title-chasing KFC.
With Blundell failing a late fitness test, Robinson took the bold move of playing defensive-rock Drew Haspell in the centre-forward role - eliciting the response of ‘you are fooking clueless’ from captain Tom Green. Oh yee of little faith!
As has become their trademark, Witton were slow getting out of the blocks and too guilty of playing too many balls for Haspell to run on to, when his obvious strength is to receive the ball to feet and bring the midfield into the game. However, it was pleasing to see the midfield pushing further out, allowing the defense to hold a higher line. Unfortunately, a momentary lapse let KFC in, and with a shot that flew through Marshall’s legs - leaving Johnson unsighted and helpless - KFC took the lead. This could so easily of been Witton’s undoing as KFC seemed intent on building up their goal difference.
Yet, this was not to be as Witton began to build up some pressure. With the tight-marking so clearly lacking in recent weeks now being played with expertise by each and evey player. Green was even managing to be pleasent to both team-mates and referee. Wonders never cease. However, at half time the score remained 1 nil to KFC. Not quite finger lickin good from Witton’s perspective.
As the second half began, Scott Carter bowed out to be replaced by the blonde-streaked twinkle-toed recently-heartbroken Shaun ‘Jay-Z’ Carter - and what an impact the young raggamuffin had on procedings! As the calm and composed centre-back pairing of Robinson and Marshall built yet another move from the back, the ball was passed back and forth in midfield between Carter and Green, and whammo 1 each with a clinical strike from midfield enforcer Tom Green. That’s 8 goals Green has now claimed in his XXXL Witton shirt.
The goal drove Witton on, as attack after attack was thwarted by the KFC keeper. Some brilliant football being played in midfield, and some searching balls being sprayed from defense up to the head, feet, or bionic-knee of Haspell. Unfortunately Witton could not find the elusive 2nd goal - despite having a man advantage for 2 minutes when the hot-headed KFC striker was sin-binned after a hefty late tackle on Robinson.
All in all a draw was probably a fair result against a very strong KFC team. Special mention to Shaun Carter for an excellent performance when coming off the bench. He is sure to have been dissappointed with finding himself named as a substitute once again, but on today’s performance it will take a brave man to leave him out of next weeks starting line-up.
And a final note to finish, Thomas Green sensationally admitted he may of been wrong to claim that Robinson was clueless in selecting Haspell upfront today. And that my son, is why Robinson picks the team and Green doesn’t 
Well done boys.