Witton Albion vs Lancaster City.

Not quite sure what to make of tonight’s Albion performance,

Lancaster were certainly far tougher opposition than Gainsborough were on Saturday and overall, probably deserved their 3-2 win.

Thought the home defence looked a bit error prone tonight as the Lancaster team worked hard out of possession in the first half to close down space and prevent Witton from playing the ball out from defence. Often forcing unnecessary mistakes such as the one that resulted in their second goal.

In midfield and up front, the Albion were also looking a tad lightweight against a no nonsense Lancaster team ably led by the experienced ex-Chorley defender Andy Teague, who was aided and assisted by wily ex-Barrow midfielder Niall Cowperthwaite.

On the positive side however, Witton do look quite dangerous from set pieces. Indeed, all three league goals this season so far, have come from corners and/or free kicks.

Of course, it didn’t help that a number of key players were missing tonight.

Will they be back at the weekend as Saturday at home against South Shields, is a game which will undoubtedly be another tough test.

Upwards and onwards and all that.

Very poor in the first half James Hooper worked hard upfront but he’s not Rob Hopley or Will Jones, he’s better playing off somebody. Weak in midfield without Billy Smart & I thought McNulty’s short passes every time were putting us under unnecessary pressure.

The second half was better, JJ looked good running at people but we cannot rely on an 18yr old week in & out. Wardle solid despite carrying an obvious injury, Nick Ryan steady but we all know he’s playing out of position. Hopefully Jay Foley starts on Saturday. Something to build on with the second half performance but a big improvement needed.

Not a great display capped by a Greg Hall horror show. This is how I thought we would play after a terrible pre season, plenty of guts and effort but little style or football played. I know we have a few injuries but I’m not sure they would add a lot maybe a bit more experience?

The 2 new loan players have potential but lost a lot of possession by over playing. Nick Ryan is no midfielder and JJ is a young winger not a striker. 3-2 flattered us really and it was a suprise to see us score 2 goals and yes, we did well at set pieces but open play was awful. Signings needed?

I agree with everything C.J says.

Definitely new signings needed BUT where is the money coming from? 309 there last night and on crowds that big we cannot compete with some clubs.

A big improvement needed on and off the pitch for the club to move forward and not just languish in mid table.

It’s really difficult to make sense of where we are as a team right now.

I watched the first half, but left at half time. It’s a really hard watch (again). I know we have injuries to key players but It’s not an enjoyable outing at the moment.

We have a decent budget to compete but not win this league, but we seem to spend poorly. We had a decent but small squad, lost Bakkor and Smart and what did we do?, brought in 2 young loan defenders when every Wittoner who saw the pre season knows we badly needed at the very least a striker and midfielder.

Have to agree with Knutsfordian it’s a very hard watch at the moment. Turgid is a decent word for it! Action is required urgently.

C.J, I have no idea what the budget is but I’m guessing it’s in the bottom 6 of clubs in our division. Agreed we need a forward but when forwards in the division below are getting £250 a week, we would be looking at £350/400 a week on a 12 month deal. So maybe Carl and Gary have to shop in Aldi (I know there’s some bargains) not Waitrose when getting players. It’s frustrating for fans but I’m guessing the management are equally as frustrated.

Again, I don’t kow the ins & outs of why Scott Bakkor left but, if you look at his profile on Stalybridge website he’s had 7 clubs in 5 years so, history says he doesn’t stay around at clubs long.

I’m sure Tuesday was a one off and the lads will get it right on Saturday and a good home following behind them.

Thought Lancaster had an effective game plan first half on Tuesday night, ratting around and closing down the home side. Obviously it was high intensity though, which meant that Witton were just starting to get back in the game, to a greater or lesser degree as the visitors started to tire in the second half.

Early days yet, but could be a long season if there’s no overall improvement by the Albion anytime soon. Noting that four teams now go down from the NPL at the season end in April.

Saturday vs South Shields will be a toughie!

Peter M, I can’t believe after 2 games you’re already worrying about teams going down. YES, Tuesday was a poor performance but do people not remember last season losing against Whitby at home first game and then going on a good run until the season was cancelled.

It’s now time for the crowd to get behind the team instead of the place being like a graveyard at times. Yes I know you need something to cheer but, the crowd lift the players and the players lift the crowd and tomorrow is a perfect time to start.

Well said ‘‘distant’’ !

I had hoped that my previous posts wouldn’t have come across as overly negative, and I certainly wouldn’t ever dream of walking out of an Albion game at half time, no matter how poor the first 45 minutes.

Merely endeavouring to point out that for 2021-22, the bottom four in the NPL will go down at the end of the season.

Hopefully this won’t affect the Albion because corrective action will have been taken long before then, and by end April, the team will be well placed in the table and maybe in contention for a play off place.

However, with some NPL teams already on six points from six, just two games in it’s already catch up time, and so far as others have also pointed out, for one reason or another the Albion haven’t exactly been firing on all cylinders.

Good to hear others’ thoughts on this.

The management team have a good track record and know what’s required at this level. There is no reason to doubt that they are seeing the same game as us and know what’s required to improve the team and collect the points. No one is booing or calling for heads and we all want the same thing - to see the team challenging and playing good exciting football and I am sure that will come over time.

On a wider note credit definitely has to be given to those running the club and managing the facilities. The ground looks in super nick with the pitch as good as it has ever been.

I am sure the mgt will try to put things right but I think they have a much more pragmatic approach to winning games than Wittoners like! What is even more frustrating is 8 weeks or so into the season, we are looking for players to make a good balanced 11 and nothing much on the bench. Sure Jones will come back in when fit but not enough goals up front is still going to be the issue without Bakkor and too lightweight in midfield looks a problem without Smart?

Today will be very tough but I expect us to battle away and then improve over the next month or so why can we not be ready to go on day 1?

Some of the comments on here are an absolute shambles. Quite frankly, not sure if it wasn’t for about 3 people this forum would have no purpose other than to splurge sh*te about the team every week.

This a new, refreshed squad with a big injection of youth and what a way to welcome them in their first competitive home game? Bet they are full of enthusiasm about the club.

Not sure if someone has done summat to a nun in a previous life from Witton but we’ve ran into some serious bad luck over the past few pre-seasons. It also doesn’t help that with us being lower in the food chain than nearly everyone near us in the same division when it comes to recruitment.

Colin, you call it pragmatic but no one was moaning last season when we sat in a 5-3-2 and kept clean sheets for a laugh.

By the way some pricks were booing at HT vs Lancaster which considering its our first competitive game at home in 9 months, is quite embarrassing.

I’m for one hopeful about this season, regardless of today’s outcome. I hope I don’t have to log on to this barrel of sh*te again

Callum I can take pragamatic, done well like last season with a decent 11 out but I prefer to be more open and attacking by choice. So far this season it’s not well done I never boo the club or team but, will comment on here it’s a forum and your positive views are welcome. If You think our pre season has been good and our team balanced then good for you I dont. It’s been a shambles imo.

I don’t expect anything today, being competetive would be a bonus! However Carl’s aporoach can get a result here and would not suprise me and like you, I hope for better as we progress but if you lose the crowd with a bad pre season and a poor start, then you don’t get them back that’s why I’m disappointed.

See that Lancaster stuffed Grantham 7-2 yesterday. Perhaps the Dolly Blues might prove to be a better team than we initially gave them credit for.

An update on promotion/relegation…

At the top end of the NPL table, two teams will get promoted to National League North. The champions and the play off winners.

At the bottom end, whilst four NPL teams should notionally be relegated this season, due to planned further league restructuring, the fourth-bottom NPL team will be reprieved, together with three of the third-bottom placed teams from within the four NPL/Isthmian/Southern Premier Central + South leagues with the best points per game record.

Finish bottom or second-bottom of the NPL = relegation.