Witton Substitution:
Billy Smart replaced by Cesaire Lingouba on 73 minutes.
Tom Owens can’t quite get enough of a connection onto Matty Devine’s left wing cross on 74 minutes and the ball runs through to the Shields goalkeeper Liam Connell.
Tom Owens again on 76 minutes takes the ball down well in the penalty area, rounds a defender but fires a shot over the bar.
Rob Hopley has a shot deflected wideon 80 minutese, there’s a shout for a Witton penalty for handball and then Hopley heads wide from a left wing corner as the pressure builds.
Joshua Gillies drags a shot wide from the edge of the area for the visitors on 82 minutes.
Witton Substitution:
James Foley replaced by Jordan Cobley on 87 minutes.
Rob Hopley on 88 minutes flicks on a header from a long throw in onto the roof of the net.
Yellow card:
South Shields Liam Connell on 89 minutes for time-wasting.
Shields Nathan Lowe with a thunderbolt strike from distance on 90 minutes but it flies over the bar.
Yellow card:
South Shields Ben Harmison on 90+2 minutes for kicking the ball away.
Rob Hopley flicks the ball on, Jordan Cobley lays it off to Will Jones who drags his shot wide on 90+2 minutes.
Full Time Score from Wincham Park:
Witton Albion 0 South Shields 1.
I missed the game because of work but I’m surprised at the attendance. I thought they have a large fan base. I’m guessing they didn’t bring many?
Didn’t someone mention segregation?
Today’s attendance was around 150 down on the FA Cup tie between the two last season. As far as I’m aware there wasn’t any segregation in force.
I guess at about 80-100 away fans so the gate was low but tbh our home form is bad so neutrals and non hard core are not coming down! It would help massively if we could add some wingers or just one with pace and a striker with pace who can score ( is that asking too much of a player?). But I am sick of seeing it now and saying it on here! A lot of good hardcore Witton fans are struggling to see why we cannot improve the team, we have a good core of 9-10 players. Where was McKenna today? we miss him! As for the game Shields played well first half pressing us all over the park and scored a good goal, we were struggling in midfield. To my eye, however second half was much more even and we had a few chances but bad luck and poor finishing technique meant we couldn’t find the goal.
Shields deserved the win and I would say having seen all the best teams recently, Warrington look the best side, however Farsley seem to be spending money so might get there! My Mom probably Devine or Gards.
Danny McKenna was unavailable and as he has celebrated his 21st birthday in the last few days, I presume that was the reason.
Goalscorers cost money & as like most non league clubs i guess Witton have to live within their budget . Without sounding obvious the club need more fans coming in to generate more money . I think today’s crowd figure was affected by 2 home games & a Nantwich game over Christmas /new year & like a football club fans only have so much money .
HIGHLIGHTS: Here’s the best of the action from yesterday’s 1-0 win at @WittonAlbion in the league.
Video sponsored by @pulmanvw.
It was interesting to see our improvement after going to 4 3 3 shape rather than the diamond we try to play. Given that we dont have any wingers so 4-4-2 is not a good option, so once McKenna is back fit is it worth staying with this shape? It might solve the thorny issue with playing Rob and Will upfront that does not and has not worked and it might also increase our goal scoring options ? team could look something like:
Hall
Gards, River, Wardle, Matty
Mckenna, Smart, Foley
Owens, Hopley, Jones
Of course we have the options of Cobley instead of Jones, to add a bit off pace to the front three. We really need and Lingouba and Booth to step into midfield as required. Me personally I would give it a go and I would give Cobley a run of games also to see if he can step up to this level. UTA