Witton team news & latest score updates will appear here as and when they become available.
Team news: Witton make two changes to the starting line-up which drew against Gainsborough Trinity last weekend. Rob Hopley & Tom Owens come in for Josh Agbozo and Jawad Jebrin, who drop to the bench. Cesaire Lingouba completes his three game suspension whilst defender Nick Ryan is still missing through injury.
Greg Hall, Joe Ferguson, Isaac Baldwin, Josh Wardle, Ben Pleavin, Rob Hopley, Tom Owens, James Lawrie, Will Jones, Callum Saunders, James Foley.
Subs: Jawad Jebrin, Danny McKenna, Josh Agbozo, Raajan Gill.
Former Albion loanee Nathan Okome is named amongst the Matlock Town Substitutes.
An early opportunity for Albion as Will Jones flicked header from a right wing cross goes narrowly wide in the first minute.
Callum Saunders tries his luck from distance on 12 minutes but it goes well wide.
Albion keeper Greg Hall with an excellent double save on 13 minutes to deny Liam Hughes.
GOAL
Latest Score from The U Lock It Stadium:
Witton Albion 0 Matlock Town 1.
Reece Kendall gives the Gladiators the lead on 14 minutes after Ivan Evans header is blocked then Albion keeper Greg Hall saves another effort before the ball finally ends up in the Albion net.
Yellow card:
Matlock Town’s Callum Chippendale on 41 minutes for a challenge on James Foley.
Yellow card:
Matlock Town’s Jamie Sharman on 44 minutes for a foul on Callum Saunders.
Chance for the Albion on 45 minutes - Great ball in from Joe Ferguson and Rob Hopley rises the highest to get his head to the ball but it flies over the bar.
Half Time Score from The U Lock It Stadium:
Witton Albion 0 Matlock Town 1.
Attendance: 381.
Yellow card:
Matlock Town’s Reece Kendall on 47 minutes for a foul on Will Jones.
Chance for the Albion on 52 minutes - a ball over the top finds Callum Saunders but the Matlock keeper Joe Young rushes out well and makes a good save to deny the 14-goal striker.
Another chance for the Albion on 56 minutes as good play down the left, a clever ball from Isaac Baldwin finds Jim Lawrie whose cross is met by Callum Saunders but the effort goes over the bar.
Yet another chance on 58 minutes! Lovely play by Witton leads to a chance for Will Jones who rushes it a little and fires just wide.
Come on Witton!!!
Yellow card:
Witton’s Greg Hall on 61 minutes for dissent.
Chance for the Albion on 71 minutes - A deep free kick played in to the box, Rob Hopley wins the header but nobody can get on the end of the knock down.
Come on Witton!
Another chance for the Albion on 73 minutes as a long throw by Isaac Baldwin goes through the box, Callum Saunders shoots but his shot is saved by Joe Young in the Gladiators goal.
Witton Substitution:
Tom Owens replaced by Jawad Jebrin on 90+1 minutes.
Yellow card:
Witton’s Isaac Baldwin on 90+4 minutes.
Full Time Score from The U Lock It Stadium:
Witton Albion 0 Matlock Town 1.
Well, someone tell me how we didn’t get a positive result today? I thought second half we were by far the more positive side and went toe to toe with the league leaders. Defensively solid with Hopley and Wardle dealing with the big number 9 comfortably and both full backs and young Pleavin impressive. A touch unlucky up front and another day we score 2 or 3 but far better despite the result.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the pitch fund at Saturday’s game. The total raised was £202.
Thank you also to Tracey Collins for her efforts as always.