Credit to Alan Spruce & son ,Pete Robinson and a gang of volunteers for getting the pitch in a good condition to allow this game to go ahead.
Disappointing to lose a goal in the last minute of added time but on reflection a draw was a fair result. We played some good football today but we are still lacking punch up front. New signing Lee Thompson took his goal well when he came on for Steve Settle.
Keep the faith.
Really disappointed with today’s result, to be honest I thought we deserved all 3 points. Just some poor defending let us down, but there are Two massive games coming up so lets really get behind the team and push them on. Saturday could define our season so lets see as many Albion fans there as possible and also lets make load’s of noise.
NIGEL DEELEY’S RED N WHITE ARMY
Four points from the last two home fixtures isn’t too bad a return for a team that still represents a work in progress. Defensively we did well with relatively few scares, the midfield is stronger with Scott Willis playing. Up front looks like we haven’t yet found the right balance. Our patient football broke down arounf their box too often for us to be able to carve out much in the way of chances. I also liked the look of Lee Thompson who seemed full of confidence and caused some problems for their defense.
Having scored so late on again I thought we could hold out for the points but it wasn’t to be. Mid table for this side at this point is about right. At least we continue to improve from the performance against Hednesford.
Zigga Zagga!!!
At the beginning of the season I would have settled for mid table given the turmoil the Club had gone through in the close season, but I have to say that I now think, despite today’s dropped points, that we can make the play offs, and who knows, maybe even win it with the right new faces. Thompson is going to be a “wow” if he plays like that every game. Thanks to all who paid into the half time draw, we collected around £100. If you think my commentabout winning it a bit daft, just remember, had we won today we would have been 5th!!!
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS
WHS.
WITTON ALBION 1 OSSETT TOWN 1 attendance 329
TEAM: Smith G.; Scott, Schwarz, Burke, Donnelly; Settle (Thompson 59), Drew, Willis (Skelton 90), Gahgan (Smith S. 77); Lugsden, Proffitt. Unused subs: Thaker & Millington.
In what for most of the time was a very low key performance by both teams on a saturated Wincham Park surface, that had required a herculean full morning’s work on it to stage the game, the real telling events of this encounter occurred within the final few minutes.
With eight normal minutes left on the clock Mark Drew lifted a free-kick towards the right hand upright for Albion debutant LEE THOMPSON, introduced to the game on the hour-mark and signed 24 hours prior from league rivals Prescot Cables for whom he’d come on as a 71st minute substitute against us last month, to get behind the visitors’ last line of massed defence and head the ball past Lee Cockerham in the Ossett goal. Thompson’s introduction and style of play brought a new dimension to Albion’s forward play that had looked very lightweight earlier.
Town then introduced two substitutes of their own and when one of them, Ben Hardy, received a straight red card for an outrageous challenge on Scott Willis, less than five minutes after being on the park it looked like all three points were surely Witton bound. Referee Mark Ackerman indicated he was playing four minutes stoppage time but in that time Albion made a further substitution and it was in the 5th minute of time added on that saw Town profit. A free-kick was launched goalwards and their giant defender MATT DALY got his big toe on the ball to send it past the valiant Greg Smith and into the net, courtesy of the right hand post.
Earlier the crowd had had to wait 18 minutes before any genuine attempt that saw Cockerham hold onto Chris Gahgan’s snappy low hit shot after good work by Steve Settle. The visitors own first effort came in the 33rd minute following a good advance from Chris Fawcus, his final delivery being well parried down by Smith. The respective No 8’s Drew and Tom Claisse saw free-kick attempts either go over the target or saved by the keepers.
Danny Schwarz, who’s looking better every match, was on the end of a very promising move that saw Settle, realising his route to goal was blocked, lay the ball to his right with Schwarz sending his shot inches wide of the far left post.
Five minutes after the interval Cockerham produced a fine diving save to keep out Dorryl Proffitt’s low drive following a very intelligent pass out of defence from Gary Burke but his counterpart Smith truly excelled himself twice within ten minutes. Spotting great danger as Town advanced he came well out of his area to bravely boot the ball and actually earn a corner but received a leg injury for his troubles in so doing so. However after a couple minutes of treatment he was able to continue and subsequently produced the save of the match in denying Daz Thornton’s viciously struck shot.
Well done on getting the attendance right anyway Chad.
A shame to concede in the 95th minute when we looked to have won it! Ossett only woke up after going a goal behind!
I thought both full backs and the keeper played well. In the first half we failed to turn our dominant possession into any end product. Too many times I felt we looked for the ball over the top, we needed to stretch the width of the game more and keep it on the deck.
Thought the Dozzler did well in spells, however I think he would be more effective further up the pitch. For me we missed Ben Thornley in midfield today, unfortunately I didn’t think that Gags had a good game. Drew is a clearly a good player, however he needs to figure more as the playmaker (Willis will do the ‘ugly’ stuff). Drew needs to find the space in midfield and in turn the players then need to find him with the ball.
Lugsden needs to be stronger, he needs the confidence that a few goals would bring. Settle works hard for the team but is not a centre forward.
With neither Thornley, no Pritch and no Coyne there were a few notable absences from the side and at the moment there is not huge strength in depth.
We need to be patient and not let expectations get out of hand. I think the team work and style of play is starting to come together and we are only 7 games in! It will be nearer Christmas before we know (and can honestly start to judge) how far away we are from challenging team. I have to say that I have been pleasantly surprised and delighted by the progress made in such a short period. If we can keep up with the leading pack during the first few months then who knows! The expected favourites in this league are nothing to be feared.
Nige will build us a very good side and he and Andy will already be seeing where they need to tweak the approach and indeed the playing staff.
A long way to go yet, but lots of positives and good reason to KEEP THE FAITH!
whs well said we have 2 aim for play offs rather than just settle 4 mid table. I think settle would be better down the flank than up front but i am impressed with him none the less. Lugsden is not cutting it and cant understand why he is starting each game and it annoys me that ross thacker isnt getting a chance over him when he has made more impact in 10 mins than lugsden io 90.
Mark my words, Thompson is a brilliant addition to this team.
WHS.
I’ve been very impressed and I can see what and how, Nige is building a footballing team that will thrive on patience…keep the ball and the gaps appear, keep the ball and the opposition cant score . … .
Its early days yet but I must say that I am quite happy to pay £9 to see players want to win. Willis, as daft as he looks is a very clever footballer and I would love to see his match stats how many passes and ground covered, almost reminds me of Roy Keane.
Scott and Burke also have been HUGE in the last 2 games, really impressed with Donnelly aswell seems to be growing every game.
Onwards and upwards
First post from me for a while as it has taken some time to come to terms with what has happened !!
However, I thought on Saturday we started to see a team in the making. We are becoming more fluent at the back and midfield and with the Lazy boys back in the side I think we will have more composure up front.
Don’t know if anyone else read Groundhopper in the non-league news but the ground and"famous" museum got a good mention…