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 narrowly beaten at South Shields on the opening day. Matty Devine comes in for Danny McKenna, who drops to the bench.
Greg Hall, James Yates, Matty Devine, Josh Wardle, River Humphreys, Billy Smart, Cesaire Lingouba, Tom Owens, Rob Hopley, Will Jones, James Foley.
Subs: Anthony Gardner, Michael Wilson, Danny McKenna, Chris Noone, Delial Brewster.
Latest Score from Wincham Park:
Witton Albion 0 Hyde United 0.
15 minutes played - Witton have come close to taking the lead with a Josh Wardle header being cleared following a James Foley corner.
Yellow card:
Witton’s James Yates on 29 minutes.
30 minutes played - Still goalless but Tigers keeper Peter Crook has denied Rob Hopley.
Latest:
Farsley Celtic 0-0 South Shields.
The Mariners down to nine men.
Yellow card:
Hyde United 's Janni Lipka on 33 minutes.
Attendance: 360.
Half Time Score from Wincham Park:
Witton Albion 0 Hyde United 0.
GOAL
Latest Score from Wincham Park:
Witton Albion 0 Hyde United 1.
John McCombe gives the Tigers the lead on 48 minutes following a corner - netting from close-range.
Yellow card:
Witton’s Will Jones on 49 minutes.
PENALTY to Witton on 51 minutes.
Tigers defender Kyle Harrison brings down Matty Devine.
Yellow card:
Hyde United 's Tom Pratt on 51 minutes.
James Foley 's spot - kick strikes the underside of the crossbar and comes out.
60 minutes played - The visitors still lead courtesy of their only shot at goal.
GOALLLL
Latest Score from Wincham Park:
Witton Albion 1 Hyde United 1.
River Humphreys equalises for the Albion on 71 minutes - connecting with James Foley 's free-kick.
Yellow card:
Witton’s Cesaire Lingouba on 76 minutes.
Yellow card:
Hyde United 's Ross Daly on 81 minutes.
Witton go close on 87 minutes - James Foley 's shot strikes the woodwork with Tigers keeper Peter Crook rooted to the spot.
Yellow cards:
Hyde United 's David Brown on 90+3 minutes.
Hyde United 's Peter Boyle on 90+3 minutes.
Full Time Score from Wincham Park:
Witton Albion 1 Hyde United 1.
First point on the board but it could’ve been the first win. Onto Whitby Town on Saturday we go.
A hard fought point but we really deserved all 3 after a much improved second half. A few talking points, we seemed to play a diamond which for me didn’t work too well as our full backs didn’t really give us the width we need playing 4 at the back? The midfield 4 were too narrow making for a congested midfield and no space. Do we need a new penalty taker Foley having missed 2 this season, oh how we miss Tames. I think we either need to go 5 at the back, or look to get some wingers in as we are overloaded with central midfielders and unbalanced upfront eg; no pace as Rob and Will are too similar. I much prefer Gards at right back much more quality going forward or play him as a third centre back. I dont get the players we brought in either didn’t really need a centre half or midfielders but a winger and goal scoring striker, but got neither. However, we did it seem get a good keeper if not a bit scary lol
Hyde Match Report
Hyde escape Witton with a point
Witton Albion dominated the game for the large part but will be disappointed with a 1 – 1 draw. Top class saves from Peter Crook and a missed penalty meant it was honours even in the second game of the campaign.
After an impressive victory against Basford United in the season opener at home on Saturday, Hyde faced a tough challenge away to Witton United on Tuesday evening. Before the game Tigers manager Darren Kelly said: ‘Every game we play will be a different challenge because we don’t know a great deal about the level [of quality]’. The quality of the home side was clear from the start. They looked to get the ball forward quickly and showed good pace down the wing, particularly James Foley who put in a few dangerous balls into the box early on.
Wittons first big chance of the game came 15 minutes in after Tom Owens shot from outside of the box was blocked by the Hyde defense and deflected behind after shouts of hand ball were waved off. From the resulting corner a towering header from Albion striker Will Jones was cleared off the line by Tom Pratt.
Hyde’s new center back pairing were finding it tough dealing with the long ball game from Witton who nearly had some joy from it in the 25th minute. A long ball flicked on by the skipper Hopley was met by Billy Yates who dinked it to the back post, forcing a full length stretch from Peter Crook to keep it out.
The first and only time in the oprning half where Witton Albions keeper was called into action came 5 minutes before the break. Porrit and Brownhill worked the ball well on the left wing leading to a dangerous looking cross but Greg Hall was able to come and claim it.
Hyde had a scary last few moments of the half and just couldn’t hang on to the ball. With lots of bodies up from the back for a Witton free kick, Will Jones found himself in a pocket of space in the Hyde penalty area and got his shot off but another brilliant save from Crook denied the home side from taking the lead before half time.
HT 0-0
After the break, Hyde looked a different side and instantly made it count. A corner from the right hand side was whipped in and Chib Chilaka managed to rise above his man, heading the ball into the path of John McCombe who toe poked it past Greg Hall just three minutes into the second half.
Hyde’s good work at the start of the second half was nearly instantly undone when Foley was brought down in the box for a Witton penalty in the 50th minute. Foley, who scored from the spot against South Shields on Saturday looked confident from the spot but blasted it against the bar and Hyde cleared the danger.
Hyde looked a lot more dangerous in the second half and could have had a penalty of their own three minutes later. Luke Porritts low cross seemed to hit the arm of a Witton Albion defender but appeals were waved away.
Peter Crook was called upon again 15 minutes into the second half after some patient build up. Tom Owens was played in on the right channel and had a chance to bring things level but was denied by a good save down to Crooks left.
Witton Albion’s pressure finally proved too much to cope with for the Tigers. After a dubious decision to award a free kick against Hyde, Foley clipped in a great ball that was headed in by River Humphreys after 70 minutes.
Hyde escaped a scary moment five minutes before the end when a long punt forward from the Witton keeper was held up well by Hopley. He offloaded it to Strike partner Jones who teed off Foley, inviting him to bend one into the top right corner from the edge of the box but it hit the woodwork.
Witton Albion 1 – 1 Hyde United FC
Four points from a possible six is an impressive start to the new season for Hyde but the manager Darren Kelly is keen not to get carried away. He said: ‘I believe in the players and think they can achieve anything they set out to do… my personal thing is to not get too far ahead, I believe in the squad but for me it’s about tackling each game as it comes’.
Report by : Joe Chorlton
Regarding the keeper, what is he playing at? You can’t afford to have a keeper pissing about with it at the back trying to take on the world. If you are reading Greg just get shut!!, it’s a shame as take this out of his game and hes top draw!!
Overall I’m very happy with the start we have made against 2 tough teams, a win over the weekend is needed though.
Tuesday night’s game against Hyde United was the 150th competitive game played under Carl Macauley 's management.
Witton’s record during that time is:
Played 150 Won 78 Drawn 31 Lost 41 Goals Scored 298 Goals Conceded 207.
Statistics courtesy of Andrew Simpson.
Decent stats I guess they would be better after He has established his style and players on to the team and whilst no one agrees with him all of the time ( As fans we never will LOL ) overall He is great manager and a good fit to our club well done to Carl and the whole team UTA