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 drew at Stalybridge Celtic a fortnight ago. Danny McKenna comes in for Jawad Jebrin who drops to the bench. Nick Ryan, Tom Owens & Kyle Stubbs are not involved whilst latest signing from Chorley, Josh Agbozo awaits his debut.
Greg Hall, Cesaire Lingouba, Isaac Baldwin, Josh Wardle, Nathan Okome, Will Sutton, Danny McKenna, James Lawrie, Will Jones, Callum Saunders, James Foley.
Subs: George Nugent, Rob Hopley, Steve McNulty, Jawad Jebrin, Raajan Gill.
Will Jones with an excellent low effort from 25 yards on 4 minutes which is well saved by Mateusz Hewelt in the Bridge goal.
Callum Saunders at the back post with a header on 17 minutes which goes straight at the Bridge keeper Mateusz Hewelt.
Yellow card:
Bamber Bridge’s Paul Dawson on 19 minutes for simulation.
Isaac Sinclair drags a shot wide of the Albion goal on 28 minutes from 25 yards after a good run down the right hand side.
Callum Saunders with a great chance on 30 minutes as a high ball evades Nathan Pond, the striker gets on the end of it but his volley flies over the bar.
Robert Apter cuts inside from the right on 33 minutes and his low shot is saved by Greg Hall in the Albion goal.
Really nice move by Albion on 38 minutes with the ball sprayed out to James Foley who set up a chance for Cesaire Lingouba but his low shot went well wide.
Yellow card:
Bamber Bridge’s Chris Churchman on 42 minutes.
Half Time Score from The U Lock It Stadium:
Witton Albion 0 Bamber Bridge 0.
Attendance: 381.
Robert Apter curls a shot just over the Albion bar on 47 minutes from 25 yards for the visitors.
GOAL
Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:
Witton Albion 0 Bamber Bridge 1.
Joe Rodwell-Grant gives the visitors the lead on 50 minutes from close-range despite the attempts of Albion keeper Greg Hall to keep it out.
GOALLLLL
Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:
Witton Albion 1 Bamber Bridge 1.
He’s done it! A new Witton Albion record.
Callum Saunders equalises for the Albion on 57 minutes following an excellent pass from James Lawrie - his 12th of the season and the ninth league game in a row.
Chance for Bamber Bridge on 59 minutes but defender Nathan Pond’s header misses the target.
Red card:
Witton’s Cesaire Lingouba on 76 minutes.
Witton Substitution:
Will Jones replaced by Jawad Jebrin on 78 minutes.
Witton Substitution:
Nathan Okome replaced by Rob Hopley on 81 minutes.
GOAL
Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:
Witton Albion 1 Bamber Bridge 2.
Bamber substitute Craig Carney scores from close-range on 89 minutes following a deep cross.
GOAL
Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:
Witton Albion 1 Bamber Bridge 3.
Robert Apter scores Bridge’s third on 90+2 minutes firing into an unguarded net following a breakaway after a Witton corner and Albion keeper Greg Hall upfield.
GOAL
Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:
Witton Albion 1 Bamber Bridge 4.
Paul Dawson nets Bridge’s fourth on 90+4 minutes as Witton push forward.
Full Time Score from The U Lock It Stadium:
Witton Albion 1 Bamber Bridge 4.
The final scoreline (if not the actual result) somewhat flattered high-flying Bamber Bridge today in my opinion.
Clearly the turning point was Cesaire Lingouba’s second half red card for a dangerous “Antoine Griezmann style” head high challenge.
The visitors took full advantage of their extra man in the closing stages, and the Albion’s cause wasn’t really helped by 'keeper Greg Hall going up for a late corner, and then being caught a long way out of goal following a quick breakaway.
Shades of Atherton Colls away in the FA Cup back in September, and not even a decent penalty shout on this occasion.
How things might have been different had Callum Saunders not blazed over the bar in the first half when well placed and given Witton an interval lead.
Callum eventually got on the scoresheet, but Witton were somewhat on the back foot by then.
Overall, would probably have settled for a draw, but a 1-4 home defeat is certainly a tough one to take.
Anyone else any similar (or contrary) thoughts on the game today?
I can’t disagree with anything you’ve said Peter, with 11 men on the pitch I could only see one winner. The sending off was a tough one as both players had high feet but Cesaire caught the lad. As for Greg going up for a corner, I thought he was stupid doing it and I believe it was his own decision to do it, despite being told to stay back.
Thought we were the better team in a dull first half but couldn’t make it count.Then in the second half they got stronger and we faded a little. The sending off tipped the balance even more. 1-2 would have been a fair reflection but as I overheard someone say on the way out “At least we got some entertainment in those last few minutes!”