Witton Albion v. Stalybridge Celtic

The Easter weekend is a hectic time for football clubs at all levels and can more often than not be a defining moment of the season.

Witton go into the holiday period safe in the knowledge that they will be playing Northern Premier League West Division football next season, barring any restructual changes.

Good Friday sees them welcome Cheshire rivals Stalybridge Celtic and former Albion management team John Macken and Steve Atkinson.

Both teams go into the game in good form, Witton with five wins from their last six outings whilst Celtic are currently on an unbeaten run of twelve games including six wins on the bounce.

Witton have also received a boost this week following the news that midfielder Alfie Bairstow’s loan from Salford City has been extended until the end of the season.

John Macken’s team are currently sitting third in the table and look certain to be in the play offs barring any major mishaps but, there are still a number of points to be played for.

Amongst the likely playing personnel on the Stalybridge side could be three players who need no introduction to Albion fans namely: Mike Koral, Jack Tinning and Jack Byrne who had a brief loan spell with the club a few seasons ago.

Witton will be looking to complete the league double over Celtic following a 3-1 win at Bower Fold back in August.

Goals from Witton’s front three of Tom Hoyle, Freddy Garbutt and Joe Duckworth secured the three points in Albion’s favour.

A tough game is in prospect and hopefully, both teams are able to reproduce their current form and make it a spectacle but with Witton securing another win.

Kick off at the U Lock It Stadium is 3pm.

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: £12, Concessions(Over65’s/Disabled): £7, Young Adults: (18-21 Year Old’s): £5, Under 18’s: £3 (FREE with Junior Membership Card). Season Ticket Holders & Under 5’s - Admitted FREE.

Stadium Access: Before the game, the stadium is only accessible by way of the turnstiles. Wheelchair users access is via the gate near to the turnstiles at the Wincham End of the stadium.

Disabled Facilities: There are two sections - one at each end of the main stand for Wheelchair users.

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: Please note: Matchday Programmes are now being produced in digital format. QR Codes will be placed around the stadium on matchday for supporters to access it. A link will also be posted on Social Media ahead of each game.

Social Club: The Social Club will be open from 1pm. 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).

The FanZone will be open from 1pm and will be fully operational. To access the FanZone - enter the stadium via the turnstiles at the Wincham End of the stadium and walk past the main stand from the Wincham End. The FanZone has a bar within it and a seating area. Please note: Alcohol is permitted inside the stadium but MUST be in a plastic beaker.

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

We now have Re-usable Cups for a £2 deposit(Returnable) - Same rules but a different design.

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: With it being Good Friday, there will be Easter activities going on around the stadium before the game.

We would like to welcome our Match Sponsors Bed SPACE and hope they have an enjoyable afternoon with us.

Should be a cracker this one, both sides in good form and with Bridge after revenge over us.

I’m sure our old manager Jon Macken will be looking forward to it. I hope Bembo-Leta is fit and we are strong my team would be

Terry

Cook, Ebhote, Bembo-Leta, Sotona

Brazel, Lawrie, Bairstow, Edwards

Duckworth, Hoyle

We could go 4 3 3 though and I guess Garbutt comes in for Edwards or Brazel.

Good luck lads. UTA

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

Team news: Witton make one change to the starting line-up that won at Darlaston Town last weekend. Joel Bembo-Leta comes in for Alfie Bairstow whilst Kyle King replaces Tom Farrall on the bench. Jack Walls is not involved.

Witton team:

Cameron Terry, Matt Cook, Damola Sotona, James Lawrie, Geffry Ebhote, Joel Bembo-Leta, Joe Edwards, Jacob Hamman, Freddy Garbutt, Joe Duckworth, Tom Hoyle.

Subs: Harry Brazel, Ben Dufton-Kelly, Kyle King, Jack Hill, Harry Woods.

Former Albion loanee Jack Byrne starts for Stalybridge but Mike Koral & Jack Tinning are not involved.

GOAL

Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Witton Albion 0 Stalybridge Celtic 1.

Jack Irlam gives Celtic the lead on 9 minutes beating Cameron Terry in the Albion goal from close-range.

Yellow card:

Witton’s James Lawrie on 16 minutes.

GOAL

Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Witton Albion 0 Stalybridge Celtic 2.

Ruben Jerome doubles Stalybridge’s advantage on 17 minutes from Jordan Butterworth’s cross.

Chance for the Albion on 23 minutes but Joe Edwards shot goes narrowly wide of the post.

Yellow card:

Witton’s Joe Edwards on 24 minutes.

30 minutes played - Witton still trail 2-0.

GOAL

Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Witton Albion 0 Stalybridge Celtic 3.

Jack Irlam gets his second and Celtic’s third on 34 minutes after Geffry Ebhote’s head dropped into his path.

Chance for the Albion on 39 minutes but Geffry Ebhote’s header is tipped over the bar by Charlie Monks in the Celtic goal.

Half Time Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Witton Albion 0 Stalybridge Celtic 3.

Today’s Attendance: 669.

Witton Substitutions:

Joe Edwards replaced by Harry Brazel on 46 minutes.

Damola Sotona replaced by Ben Dufton-Kelly on 46 minutes.

Chance for the Albion but Tom Hoyle glances narrowly wide on 48 minutes after being put through by Joe Duckworth.

Freddy Garbutt gets onto Matt Cook’s cross on 55 minutes but his finish lacks power and Charlie Monks saves in the Celtic goal.

55 minutes played - Stalybridge still lead 3-0.

Yellow card:

Stalybridge Celtic’s Kyle Brownhill on 58 minutes.

Tom Hoyle goes close for the Albion on 62 minutes after being set up by Joe Duckworth but the ball strikes the post.

Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Witton Albion 0 Stalybridge Celtic 3.

75 minutes played.

Witton Substitution:

Jacob Hamman replaced by Harry Woods on 79 minutes.

GOALLLLL

Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Witton Albion 1 Stalybridge Celtic 3.

Freddy Garbutt pulls a goal back for the Albion on 84 minutes with his nineteenth goal of the season heading home Tom Hoyle’s cross.

Yellow card:

Stalybridge Celtic’s Max Leonard on 84 minutes.

Yellow card:

Witton’s Matt Cook on 90+3 minutes.

Full Time Score from The U Lock It Stadium:

Witton Albion 1 Stalybridge Celtic 3.

Witton drop to eleventh in the table following today’s results.

We are next in action on Easter Monday when we travel to Nantwich Town in a Northern Premier League West Division fixture for a 3pm kick off.

Sadly, we did not kick off till 4pm and 3-0 down at that.

We were at 6’s and 7’s in defence, no solidity in front of them and Bridge scored 3 quick and slick goals and game over!

Missing Alfie Bairstow was huge for us and starting with a light 3 in midfield didn’t work either without Bairstow, I would have gone 4 in midfield and started Brazel.

Better second half but still not clinical, a few players not on there game today!

4 more to go then take stock. UTA