Witton team news & latest score updates will appear here as soon as they become available.
Team news: Witton make three changes to the starting line-up beaten by Lancaster City in midweek. George Nugent comes in for Isaac Baldwin who misses out through injury, whilst Steve McNulty & Nick Ryan drop to the bench. Danny McKenna & James Foley start in midfield whilst Rob Hopley returns to partner James Hooper upfront. Will Jones is still missingthrough injury but new signing Callum Leigh starts on the bench.
Greg Hall, George Nugent, Nathan Woodthorpe, Josh Wardle, Will Sutton, Tom Owens, Jawad Jebrin, Danny McKenna, Rob Hopley, James Hooper, James Foley.
Subs: Callum Leigh, Joshua Paterson, Steve McNulty, Nick Ryan, Raajan Gill.
A late change to the Albion line-up:
Callum Leigh does make his debut in place of Rob Hopley.
20 minutes played - It’s been a quiet opening 20 minutes, not too much in terms of goalmouth action. Midfield dominating but not creating a great deal at either end.
Shot from distance by Shields Callum Ross on 34 minutes flies narrowly over the bar in the first real attempt on either goal.
Witton Substitution:
Danny McKenna replaced by Nick Ryan on 37 minutes.
Yellow card:
Witton’s Nathan Woodthorpe on 44 minutes.
Nathan Lowe goes for goal on 45+1 minutes from five yards inside his own half! The ball hangs in the air and is dangerous before Greg Hall in the Albion goal steadies himself and makes the save.
Half Time Score from Wincham Park:
Witton Albion 0 South Shields 0.
Attendance: 441.
Robert Briggs delivers a fine ball from deep on the right on 50 minutes and Albion defender Will Sutton gets to it just before Ntumba Massanka to head clear!
South Shields hit the bar twice in a few seconds on 52 minutes before a sublime save from Albion keeper Greg Hall tips the ball over the bar.
GOAL
Latest Score from Wincham Park:
Witton Albion 0 South Shields 1.
After a spell of pressure on the Albion goal, South Shields finally make the breakthrough on 57 minutes as Blair Adams drives through two challenges and produces a tidy finish past Greg Hall in the Albion goal.
Yellow card:
South Shields Callum Ross on 68 minutes for a foul on Tom Owens.
Shields get away with one as a free-kick from the left on 72 minutes is delivered into a dangerous area but evades everyone and bounces wide.
Witton Substitution:
Callum Leigh replaced by Steve McNulty on 77 minutes.
Yellow card:
South Shields Will Jenkins on 85 minutes for bringing down Jawad Jebrin.
Shields Will Jenkins curls a shot wide from a tight angle 15 yards out on 88 minutes.
Full Time Score from Wincham Park:
Witton Albion 0 South Shields 1.
First up you have to give South Shields credit. A good, composed, physical team who overall probably deserved the points and with a £17 000 a week wage bill should win the league!
BUT - we looked like a team, played well overall, took South Shields on in the second half and could easily have gained something from this game. As different as chalk and cheese to first half Tuesday. This performance should build confidence going into the future games.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the pitch fund at the game. The total raised was £221.50 and thank you as always to Tracey Collins for her efforts.
A much better performance from the team today, a back 4 of 3 teenagers and a 24 year old. Another teenager in JJ and more injuries than most teams get in a season. Isaac & Rob before the game, Danny during the game and Josh Wardle only 60% fit after Tuesday.
The results will come but I think the chairman/club need to find some money and give Carl and Gary reinforcements.
To say we played well yesterday is laughable. I know about the injuries situation but when u have a midfield which can’t put two passes together and add that to the fact, we didn’t have a shot on or off target in the entire game is criminal.
Injuries will clear up but how far adrift of the play offs will we be by then I don’t know.
The team gave everything but ultimately, we created little and lost possession too easily and against Shields who were a good balanced side and it was inevitable that they would win. Now we have to look forward and put the same effort in vs lesser teams and we desperately need a striker who carries a pace and goal threat to help our efforts turn into a chance for points? UTA