MASSIVE game tonight. Could really do with the 3 points.
Ok - yes it is a big game and Matlock are always a useful side so expect a tight encounter. But please we are only in September so can we keep a sense of perspective. 3 points would be excellent - anything less is not a total disaster
I’m going to write PERSPECTIVE on the back of my hand to remind me…
I understand to a degree where you are coming from when you say we are only in September but the fact of the matter is that 3 more games played and we are a quarter way through the season based on the fact we’ll play 42 league games. Not having a go here but we really do need to get something out of tonights match. I agree it would not be a disaster if we drew or even lost but it would be a set back. I suspect our league to be contested by gateshead, fleetwood, Matlock Guiesley and us. I think it will be tight so what I’m saying is we can’t afford to drop too many points and Gateshead and Matlock are going great guns at the moment so we can’t afford any complecency. I’m sure Jim is aware and our lads are fired up for the occassion and will give the usual 110%. 120% in Pritch’s case!! Onward and upward hopefully!!
Need a big atmosphere tonight, no excuses
Absolutely. I’m looking forward to making a racket.
I agree totally with you stu! we need to win against our rivals as not only will this give us the edge in the league on points but will give us the edge pyschologically too! Big effort tonight people, both on and off the pitch! Come on Witton!
COME ON WITTON!!! COME ON WITTON!!!
3 points tonight lads lets get behind em!
[color=red]COME ON WITERRRRRRNNNNNNNNN!!![/color] ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
two nil ;D
UniBond League – Premier Division - Tuesday September 11 2007
WITTON ALBION 2 MATLOCK TOWN 0 att. 393
TEAM: Kennedy, Coo, Brownhill, Pritchard (Kearney 82), Brodie, Spearritt © (Barras 66), Brown, Lloyd, Warlow, Crowe (Proffitt 66), Peers.
Scorers: Peers 76 (pen), Warlow 82 (pen)
Hard work and patient build up play eventually brought Witton a deserved 3 points against a disappointing Matlock Town side. The 30 or so who made the journey from Derbyshire will have gone home frustrated by both the negative counter attack based tactics of their own team and the manner of their defeat, with two penalties conceded in the last 15 minutes.
From the start the Albion seized the initiative, with Coo, Brodie and Peers finding acres of open space in wide areas. The first real opportunity came Witton’s way in the 5th minute, Mark Peers’ direct run and teasing cross finding Steve Brodie 8 yards out. The veteran winger could and probably should have done better than blaze his shot over the bar. This was a taste of the way things would be for the first quarter of the match, with Witton exposing the Matlock back four time and again, but with nothing to show for it. Liam Brownhill fired over from 20 yards unchallenged and Adam Warlow met another inviting Peers cross but could only head wide at the far post.
The Albion’s next opportunity came the way of the lively Alex Brown, who coasted past three half-hearted Matlock challenges and fashioned himself a shooting opportunity, only to tamely shoot straight at the keeper. This seemed to act as a wake up call to Matlock who then had a good five minutes of pressure, but could only create a couple of half-chances which were squandered. The closest Witton came in the first half was from a self won Mark Peers free kick which was expertly curled round the blind side of the wall. Matlock’s keeper Andy Richmond produced an excellent save to keep things level. That was about as good as things would get for Richmond however.
From the resulting corner, the ball was delivered onto the head of the ever dangerous Brian Pritchard at the far post. Pritchard seemed odds on to score his third goal of the season but his bullet header incredibly struck team-mate Dean Crowe on the line and went over. Adam Warlow and Mark Peers then created a chance for each other to open the scoring within a minute, but frustratingly neither could find the target, with Peers being denied again by the Matlock keeper, and Warlow’s back post header from another perfect Peers cross hitting the lunging Steve Circuit and going out for a corner.
The Albion started the second half with the same vigour as they had finished the first. The only indiscretion in the first 15 minutes being an attempted clearance from the otherwise excellent Cavell Coo which struck Matlock’s Simon Barraclough and looped just wide of the Witton upright. Peers continued to cause Matlock’s left back Ryan Davis all manner of problems and he created another chance for Warlow with a cross driven in early from the touchline. However, the Referee’s Assistant Mr McDonald gave Warlow offside even though the ball had been played backwards. Warlow was gifted another scoring opportunity almost immediately by the vision of Alex Brown who picked up the ball 20 yards out and lifted the ball over the Matlock centre halves with the outside of his right foot – a pass that would not have looked out of place in the Nou Camp. Unfortunately Warlow’s first touch was awkward and the pass did not get the goal it richly deserved.
With 55 minutes on the clock, Cavell Coo made his first serious second half foray into Matlock territory with a winding run which took him right to the edge of the Matlock penalty area. He expertly made himself a yard to get a shot off, which was hardly a rocket but was still unconvincingly palmed away by Richmond who was yet to keep hold of a ball. Coo continued to pose a threat, overlapping well down the right, and it was his cross that was cleared by Glen Kirkwood straight against the onrushing Adam Warlow and flashed inches wide of the post with the goalkeeper stranded.
Mark Peers then produced the greatest piece of individual skill of the game. The tricky winger picked the ball up on the left wing, rode three desperate Matlock challenges and unleashed a dipping drive from fully 30 yards that beat the keeper all ends up before crashing off the post and away to safety. Witton had their tails up now and it only seemed a matter of time before the breakthrough came. However Peers and Brownhill both missed half chances and Adam Warlow was denied by a good save when clean through.
The game turned on a double substitution on 66 minutes, The quiet Dean Crowe was replaced by the direct and pacey Dorryl Proffitt and Tom Spearritt was replaced at centre back by club captain Tony Barras. Almost immediately Proffitt was put clean through by Lloyd. He rapidly covered the 40 or so yards to the Matlock box before coolly rounding Richmond who brought him down for a clear penalty. Incidentally the decision was bravely given by the Referee’s Assistant as Mr Scregg the Referee was still in the Albion half, such was the pace of the attack. Richmond was then rightly sent off and was replaced in goal by Gareth Williams. The makeshift keeper could do nothing about MARK PEERS’ penalty which was thumped into the bottom corner.
Proffitt was put through again almost immediately but he opted for power rather than placement when any shot on target would surely have resulted in a second goal.
In the end it didn’t matter, as in the 82nd minute Rob Lloyd’s surging run was crudely and abruptly ended by a cynical challenge in the box by Kirkwood for Witton’s second penalty of the night. The Matlock centre half can consider himself very fortunate not to have followed his keeper for an early bath, having already been booked for a similar challenge on Peers in the first half.
ADAM WARLOW stepped up and confidently despatched the ball past Williams for his second goal of the season. This allowed the Albion to take the foot off the gas for the last 10 minutes and Brian Pritchard was replaced by Ian Kearney. Witton even had the luxury of evening the numbers up by letting Warlow come off for the last 5 minutes, despite using all three substitutes. It made no difference to the outcome and Witton go into Saturday’s F.A Cup encounter with Prescot on the back of a good performance and six consecutive clean sheets.
Well I think we deserved that over all didn’t we?
Some of the football a joy to watch yet again, although the goals were from penaltys there is an impressive consistancy in our play at the moment.
There is a relentless pace at the moment amongst the top 4 especially - another year we’d be a few points clear by now! As Sidney says we have the squad and must prove we have the staying power!
Another good gate too - helped by a reasonable matlock turnout - our average is interestingly higher than last seasons already and thats without the Telford gate - a very good sign!
Forget the league for a week now - FA Cup on Saturday, thats just as crucial for the prize money.