Witton Albion v. Runcorn Linnets(Cheshire County FA Senior Cup First Round)

Witton turn their attention to cup football on Tuesday night when they welcome Runcorn Linnets to the U Lock It Stadium in the Cheshire Senior Cup First Round.

Linnets have found some good form in recent weeks following a difficult start to the season and will be tough opponents.

A welcome distraction albeit briefly, but Witton will be wanting to progress in a competition and hopefully build confidence for games in the coming weeks.

The game represents the second meeting between the two this season following Albion’s comfortable league victory back in August, but that result counts for nothing.

It also gives the Albion management team the chance to cast an eye over some fringe players and give them some much needed game time, whilst taking the game as seriously as they can with the team selection.

Ben Harrison will have to do without loan players Joel Bailey and Owen German, who are ineligible having already played for parent club Altrincham in the competition.

Team selection will also depend on other players being available but the chance to continue in the competition will be at the forefront of their minds.

There may well some of the Academy players included in the squad if only on the bench but, it will give them more experience of being a part of the first team set up.

The tie will be decided on the night with penalty kicks if necessary but both teams will be hoping to avoid that.

Kick off at the U Lock It Stadium is 7.45pm.

WITTON ALBION FC,
THE U LOCK IT STADIUM,
CHAPEL STREET,
WINCHAM,
NORTHWICH,
CW9 6DA.

Parking: The Car Park is past the Social Club on the right. Please note: Parking for Disabled is near to the turnstiles at the Wincham End of the stadium - the first entrance as you approach the stadium from the access road.

Admission is by way of Card or cash payments at the turnstiles at the Wincham End of the stadium on matchday.

Admission Prices: Adults: £6, Concessions(Over65’s/Disabled): £4, Young Adults: (18-21 Year Old’s): £3, Under 18’s: £2, Under 5’s: Admitted FREE. Please note: Season Tickets & Membership Cards are NOT valid for cup games.

Stadium Access: Before the game, the stadium is only accessible by way of the turnstiles.

Due to the changing of the arrangements for access to the Social Club, the turnstiles will be open 2 hours prior to kick off - 1pm on Saturdays, 6pm for midweek games unless otherwise stated.

Matchday Programme: The Matchday Programme is available inside the stadium next to the Club Shop (Museum) and also inside the Social Club - Cost: £2.

Social Club: The Social Club will be open from 6pm. Please note: Card payments are accepted at the bar.

Please note: The Social Club can only be accessed from inside the stadium after entering via the turnstiles. From half time onwards, the Social Club is accessible via the passageway within the main stand.

Please note: As the Social Club is a food preparation area, dogs are NOT permitted inside the Social Club with the exception of assistance dogs(hearing and visually impaired).

Please note: Alcohol is permitted inside the stadium but MUST be in a plastic beaker.

There is also a bar inside the stadium near the Club Shop(Museum): Selling Alcohol, Soft drinks & Snacks. Please note: Alcohol MUST be in a plastic beaker.

Refreshments: Food is now available once again within the Social Club and The Tea Bar (Queenies) will also be open inside the stadium at the Lostock End of the stadium.

The Snack Bar will also be open at the Wincham End of the stadium and Juniors are welcome to use either Tea Bar within the stadium if preferred.

Please note: Hot & cold drinks and snacks are available at the Snack Bar at the Wincham End of the stadium. Hot food is only available inside the stadium from the Tea Bar (Queenies) at the Lostock End of the stadium past the main stand.

Toilet Facilities: There are toilet facilities in all four corners of the stadium, as well as inside the main entrance to the Social Club which also has a wheelchair accessible facility.

Hand Sanitizers are positioned near to every entrance point around the Stadium & Supporters are welcome to use them.

Additional Information: Should the scores be level after normal time, the tie will be decided on penalties.

We need to win I would go as strong as possible

Allen
Koral, Grogan, Hitchcox, Jackson
McGee, King, Cushion
Rokka
Hooper, Djabi

Given the injuries and unavailability that’s about it!

Good luck lads. UTA

Live match commentary from 7.30pm on https://www.mixlr.com with Iain Wright.

Match updates also available on X @WittonAlbion and on here from around 7.30pm.

Witton team news & latest score updates will appear here as and when they become available.

Team news: Witton make seven changes to the starting line-up beaten at Mossley on Saturday. Ewan McGeady, Tom Gamble, Owen Cushion, James Hooper, Kevin Spinelli, Elliot Rokka & Jay Salkeld all start. Joel Bailey, Owen German & Reece Daly are ineligible whilst Mamadou Djabi, Wealth Dasilva & Oliver Hitchcox drop down to the bench. Academy midfielder Harry Woods comes into the squad whilst Joel Bembo Leta, Harry Brazel, Kyle King & James Lawrie are all missing due to injury. Mike Koral is not involved.

WITTON team:

Ellis Allen, Ewan McGeady, Lee Jackson, Owen Cushion, Callum Grogan, Tom Gamble, James Hooper, Harry McGee, Kevin Spinelli, Jay Salkeld, Elliot Rokka.

Subs: Mamadou Djabi, Wealth Dasilva, Oliver Hitchcox, Harry Woods, Vani Da Silva.

Runcorn Linnets have former Albion defender James Short, midfielder Lewis Doyle & Adam Moseley, son of Witton legend Mike in their starting line-up. Luke Wall is named amongst their substitutes.

Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Cheshire Senior Cup - First Round:

Witton Albion 0 Runcorn Linnets 0.

15 minutes played.

25 minutes played - Still goalless.

GOAL

Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Cheshire Senior Cup - First Round:

Witton Albion 0 Runcorn Linnets 1.

Adam Moseley gives Linnets the lead on 29 minutes.

GOAL

Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Cheshire Senior Cup - First Round:

Witton Albion 0 Runcorn Linnets 2.

Adam Moseley gets his second on 32 minutes following Will Saxon’s assist.

Half Time Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Cheshire Senior Cup - First Round:

Witton Albion 0 Runcorn Linnets 2.

Tonight’s Attendance: 347.

Witton Substitution:

Ewan McGeady replaced by Mamadou Djabi on 45 minutes.

Witton Substitutions:

Kevin Spinelli replaced by Oliver Hitchcox on 46 minutes.

Jay Salkeld replaced by Vani Da Silva on 46 minutes.

James Hooper replaced by Wealth Dasilva on 46 minutes.

Yellow card:

Runcorn Linnets Will Saxon on 62 minutes.

GOAL

Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Cheshire Senior Cup - First Round:

Witton Albion 0 Runcorn Linnets 3.

Adam Morgan adds Linnets third on 68 minutes.

Red card:

Witton’s Owen Cushion on 69 minutes - Straight Red.

Witton Substitution:

Elliot Rokka replaced by Harry Woods on 86 minutes.

Yellow card:

Witton’s Lee Jackson on 88 minutes.

Full Time Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Cheshire Senior Cup - First Round:

Witton Albion 0 Runcorn Linnets 3.

Witton’s Cheshire Senior Cup campaign ends at the first hurdle.

Well sadly we put out a weak team that had no chance. Runcorn respected the cup and their fans and put out a good side hence the battering.

Now is not the time for reflection, but action with a clear out and a rebuild before it’s too late!

I’m not naming any names but, we have maybe 6 that do not belong at this level and a couple more that need to be improved on if we want to climb the table.

We for certain need a good centre half, a hard man in midfield and probably 2 strikers who look like they could score a few goals.

That was a terrible display last night, there was only going to be one winner in this game and it wasn’t us.

There definitely needs to be a clear out of some players that are not at this level of football, for us a goal scoring centre forward is priority before it’s too late.

We cannot afford to be in the relegation zone for much longer, there is time to sort things out and with the usual midfield and a quality striker we can move up the league.