This was a must win game financially for us and we failed miserably to raise our game once again. We all knew how hard it was going to be this season and that is exactly how it has turned out. As Neil has posted there were two poor teams out there yesterday but having said that I think we were the better team and had lady luck not deserted us we would have won.I think the main problem is the midfield - they are not helping the defence out and very few chances are being created. The return of Ben Thornley at Nantwich on Tues should make a difference and I would like to see him operating on the right as he did so effectively at Prescot. Ben has the ability to keep the ball and bring others more into the game.
We have all got to just hang in there,tough it out and I am sure we will get there in the end.
Mom - Gary Scott - he is working his b*lls off every game and u only have to see him coming off at the end to recgnise that.
TEAM: Smith G., Scott, Burke, Pritchard, Donnelly; Thaker, Linford (Willis 71), Drew, Smith (Warwick 65); Thompson, Thornley R. Subs n/u Schwarz, Dunne & Millington. Star Man: Rod Thornley
A 64th minute goal scored by Kevin Sanasy, who’d previously had a 11 match spell with Witton two years back, decided this tie. Ironically it came following some of Witton’s brightest attacking moves of the afternoon. Seconds before Rod Thornley, despite being pulled back by Scott Lowe, continued his run in from the right of the penalty area, letting fly with a rasping shot that crashed back into play off the far post. The ball was quickly released down Town’s right flank where tall striker Andy White evaded the stretched defence to centre for Sanasy to comfortably pick his spot as home keeper Gregg Smith had already been drawn out of his goal.
Lee Thompson, in the 12th minute, wriggled his way past half the Worksop Town team before pulling the ball back to Thornley whose shot was blocked away for a corner and following the flag-kick skipper Brian Pritchard headed wide of the right upright. Thornley then went close when perfectly judging the ball as it bounced between two defenders. From a free-kick drifted to the far left post home defender Gary Scott just got to head the ball out for a corner whilst his fellow full-back Paul Donnelly produced a last gasp challenge on Ryan Ludlam after he’d cleverly worked himself into good position and was about to let fly. Mark Drew then quickly broke away but was fouled just outside the area before getting up to send the free-kick drifting narrowly wide of the left upright.
Seven minutes into the second period the visitors Phil Rowlands somehow evaded a caution when blatantly pushing Thornley in the back, from the resultant free-kick Drew beat the wall but keeper Steve Hernandez was able to catch the ball under the crossbar. Town then had a let-off when full debutant Nick Linford sent a ball in from the right that had already taken a defection before spinning goalwards off central defender Kevin Dawson who was mighty relieved when Hernandez managed to dive onto the ball as it approached the goal-line.
Witton did eventually get the ball into the net with 20 minutes remaining but Thornley was adjudged offside. Albion sent extra players forward in their efforts to force an equaliser but all too often wayward shots were sent in from distance when fellow players were better placed. Wide player Michael Warwick was given his debut and showed some good vision on the left but even he was guilty of not getting enough power on crosses that had been evident virtually throughout the whole match.
Personally i think Rod had as poor a game as i’ve seen from him yesterday.
I agree with Eli that the midfield is offering nothing either from a defensive or offensive perspective.
Why are we playing Donnelly (signed as a rightback) as a leftback, and Gary Scott (signed as a leftback) as rightback?
Why when Thacker is so right footed are we playing him on the left? Why is Steve Smith, who has operated on the left for much of the season, being played in the centre and Linford (who it was stated is a central midfield player) is playing right mid? We’re struggling, so why are we putting square pegs in round holes when we seem to have all the right shaped pegs in the first place!!!
I agree totally Eli I thought we were the better team - but I cant hide behind the “unlucky” excuse on the run of results we are having so I didnt try to!
If anything our away form has actually been better so roll on Tuesday!
We were the better side for the first hour, however it is the result that unfortunately matters. When your lucks down nothing runs for you, but we (the club and the fans) are the only ones that can turn that around.
We can either accept mediocrity, low crowds and general misery or we can all pull together to make forward progress. There is a lot of work to do on an off the pitch (and everyone involved in the running of the club does so for free in the spare time)!
The rebuilding required this season has been immense, some individuals stripped the team of our footballing assets and others filled a transit van full of fixtures and fittings (including the tin opener)!
If we give in now we have been beaten by the actions of others! This club has exisited since 1887 and has been in worse positions. It is hard to accept our current performances on the pitch compared to recent seasons, therefore instead of accepting it we need to do everything within our power to build the next great Witton team and compete at the right end of the league.
We are rightfully demanding that some of the players try harder and the same demands are on the supporters. This is a time when we pull together, we pick ourselves up and we make improvements. Remember we can’t change Saturday’s result, it has gone - we can help to change Tuesday’s result!
Two big dates this week, Nantwich away on Tuesday (let’s show our fantastic away support yet again and cheer on a win), plus the information meeting on Thursday (come and contribute to the future of the club).
Here’s who Witton could have got…