Witton Albion Supporters FC 2 v 0 White Stallions
Sh Carter 2
Att: 1
Team:
Tim Green (GK), N Wilson, M Robinson, Sc Carter, Sh Carter, A Chadwick
Subs: G Crouch(unused), M Blundell
MOTM – Shaun Carter, linked well with Chad and scored two, even though nursing a sore hamstring.
Next Best – Tim “Just a bit luckier than Heurelho Gomes” Green. Had little to do but was reliable when called upon.
Witton Rating **
Match Rating ***
A different Ref kicked off the day’s biggest game, between the current top two teams. White Stallions looked to take the game to Witton early on, leaving a sole defender to mark Andy Chadwick. Witton were comfortable with this, nullifying any attack that started. It was from a Stallions attack that the ball came to Shaun, who left the player behind him still running towards the Albion goal, as he broke on the counter attack. Shaun exchanged passes with Chadwick, leaving himself one on one with the Stallions borrowed keeper and neatly tucked the ball away to give Witton a 1-0 lead after 5 minutes. The tone was set for the game, with Stallions attacking, attempting to equalise, leaving one at the back and Witton attacking on the break. It was on a Stallions attack that the tone for the second half was set. As Robinson shepherded a ball out of play for a goal kick/throw, Stallions striker Mellor took the player-managers legs from under him. Robinson was keen to avoid falling upon tarmac and rather than fall forward, crumpled. The referee was quick to call this - almost as quick as Robinson was to complain. Shortly after, Witton scored an almost carbon copy of their first goal. The passing interchanges between Chadwick, Shaun and Scott lead to Shaun turning inside his defender and slotting home for his, and Witton’s, second. With a few minutes left before half time, the referee called Mellor over for a word, mainly for his pushing in the back and minor fouls. Mellor’s dissent almost earned him a yellow card, yet the ref showed some leniency as it was close to half time.
The second half saw the introduction of Blundell, with Robinson dropping to the bench. The game turned into an even more chippy affair, with small but blatant fouls occurring with more and more frequency by both teams. Complaints and dissent also featured heavily, with Blundell warned about kicking the ball away. It was 7 minutes into the second half when Blundell gave away a foul. The ball lofted by stallions over to the wing and another foul on their winger led to yet another free kick for the stallions. As the ball was played back towards the free kick position it hit Blundell, who knew little about it. The ref decided, somewhat harshly, that this was another attempt to kick the ball away and to waste time. With that mystifying decision, Blundell unleashed a volley of dissent at the ref and was immediately subbed by Robinson. It was minutes later that Tim was called into action. A rare shot from Stallions was deflected as Tim was mid-dive yet he somehow managed to change direction and knock the ball up within his area and watch as it came back down and bounced, spinning, past the post for a corner, earning many shouts about being Witton’s Gomes in disguise. The rest of the second half was yet more niggly fouls as Witton refused to allow attacks from Stallions to gain momentum and the Stallions players refusing to let their second half keeper face too many breakaways. Chances were missed by both Chadwick and Shaun, both unlucky not to have at least a goal or a goal more, Scott put in some great recovering tackles to break down attacks, Neil, who looked lost first half, was a rock in the second and Blundell caused Stallions to lose their composure.
Overall, it was a team display/foul for most of the game with some good counter attacking football, leading to Witton’s best start to a season so far.
Winsford later drew with Rejects meaning that next week’s game is, according to Robinson, MASSIVE!
