Witton v Ossett: preview
By Andrew Simpson
Witton Albion v Ossett Town (ko 3pm)
UniBond Premier Division
Venue: Wincham Park
Oddds (bet365): Witton 4/11, Draw 10/3, Ossett 6/1
Previous meeting: Witton 3 Ossett 1
Witton (from): Kennedy (GK), Coo, Spearritt, Pritchard, Kearney, Brownhill, Dillon, MacPherson, Craven, Lloyd, Peers, Crowe, Warlow, Thornley
Doubtful: none
Injured: Brown (knee), Royle (ankle), Barras (knee)
Suspended: none
Form guide: W W D W W W
Top scorer: Adam Warlow (13)
Ossett: Skiba (GK), Hedge (GK), Tonks, Stratford, Briggs, Dunne, Cotterill, Serrant, Meadowcroft, Pugh, Culshaw, O’Brien, Fothergill, Vickers, Owens, Jackson, Walshaw, Savoury, Jackson
Doubtful: none
Injured: none
Suspended: none
Form guide: L D W W W W
Top scorer: Aiden Savoury (6)
Match pointers
THE UniBond Premier Division’s two best defences come face-to-face at Wincham Park tomorrow.
Steve Kittrick’s men have kept as many clean sheets as Albion this term - nine - conceding just 13 goals in their opening 16 matches.
It’s a record bettered by their hosts though, who have seen a meagre eight goals hit their net in the same time.
The big contrast between the two teams is at the other end though, with Witton banging in a huge 39 goals to Ossett’s 17. Town have also failed to score in seven of their league matches, a record worse than every other team apart from rock bottom Frickley.
But Witton will have to be on guard, with Ossett scooping more than half their points on the road this season with five wins from eight matches.
Vince this week said he rated Ossett as the best team Witton had faced so far.
"They surprised me a bit at their place," he said of the pair’s 0-0 draw in September.
"They created as many opportunities against us as any other team I’ve seen this season.
"Ossett got balls into areas where we didn’t deal with them too well and we have to learn from that."
Tony Barras is out until the New Year after damaging medial knee ligaments in last week’s win over Hednesford, while Alex Brown and Chris Royle are still on the sidelines. However, England debutant Liam Brownhill should return to the starting line-up after having a rest last weekend. Ian Kearney and Tom Spearritt will vie for a place alongside Brian Pritchard.
