TEAM NEWS: Brian Pritchard sits this one out, with Ben Harrison given his first competitive game in a Witton shirt. With Phil Parkinson injured on Saturday, Adam Foy deputises, with new signing Paul Harrison in midfield.
STARTING XI: M. Cooper; M. Holt, I. Kearney, B. Harrison, M. Wood; A. Foy, P. Heler, D. MacPherson, P. Harrison; A. Kinsey, J. Hancock.
SUBSTITUTES: E. Ledwards, C. Frost, S. Moffat, C. Smith, C. Millar.
LATEST SCORE
Witton Albion 0-1 WARRINGTON TOWN
HALF TIME
Witton Albion 0-1 Warrington Town
HALF TIME SUBSTITUTION
A. Foy off
C. Smith on
LATEST SCORE
WITTON ALBION 1-1 Warrington Town
Andy Kinsey with a looping header into the top corner following a cross from new signing Paul Harrison.
SUBSTITUTION
P. Harrison off
C. Frost on
FULL TIME
Witton Albion 1-1 Warrington Town
After a rather slow first half the second half was the best I have seen since the season started.
It looked as though we had continued the way we finished on saturday. In the first half slow and couldnt pick a pass, and the midfield no where to be seen. I believe the Warrington goal woke the whole team up and as soon as we entered the pitch in the second half we looked like a whole different team.
MOM - Macca
P.S. Good to see the number one ball boy back
My MOM was Carl Frost.
I feel that we have only started to worry the opposition in the last 2 games when he has come on.
Hopefully he still has the stamina to perform for 90mins, and starts the next game.
First time I’ve seen us this season. First impressions were that we are a small team, and try to play too much football in the wrong parts of the field. Nevertheless we did try to play football.
We were painfully slow getting the ball forward first half, but restricted the visitors to a solitary shot, which unfortunately for us went in. the quality of our balls into the box left a lot to be desired, from both open play and dead ball situations. Even though we did not play well we did not deserve to go in a goal behind. A blatant push in the box by their no. 2 was apparently missed by both officials, very surprised that little fuss was made about it by the players.
Second half we showed much more purpose and were very unfortunate not to take all three points. The goal was excellent, a superb cross finished with a wonderful header. If we play for 90 minutes like we did for this 45, and show a little more composure in front of goal, and get a bit of luck, then we’ll do well this season. We can’t afford to take 45 minutes to get going though!
Two minutes added time? The Warrington keeper wasted time throughout the game, indeed was spoken to by the ref about it. There was an injury which delayed the game for a couple of minutes, and quite a few substitutions. So how could only two minutes be added on?
Can’t finish without a quick message to the ref. When the ball is literally placed on the ‘D’ for a free kick, there is no need to pace out ten yards, it is already accurately marked on the pitch for you. But if you insist on doing it anyway, whatever you do make sure you end up with the wall in the right place, not well the other side of the penalty spot, as this only makes you look a right incompetent ####! (Insert word as appropriate).
Again we have had to use a substitution at halftime to change the system. That is in at least 3 of the 4 games we have played so far. We then look a much better team in the second half.
Surely that suggests starting with 442 is a much better idea than changing to it at HT?
Just a thought…
Too much tinkering and formation changes, we need to stick to a structure and put the players in their right positions.
We are fast becoming the Man Utd of the Evo-Stik First Division North … we only turn up in the second half! The last 45 minutes were much better but against average opposition we need to pick up more than a point at home.
Three league games in and I would say Wood, Pritch, Kearney, Macca, Heler and Kinsey are first choices, with possibly Frosty when he is fit. Beyond that I think we are still 4 or 5 players short.
Early days!
A good second half which should have won us the game after a poor 1st half, in terms of players I would add hoult & harrison to the players upto the mark, jury is out on the rest and im happy to give them a bit more time but we need to settle down with a team and structure, quite liked heler in the middle we just need to think about being disciplined eg all the midfield cannot break forward especially macca and heler, could have and should have been 3 points today so still work in progress.
CJ, you are right to point out Ben, I thought he did very well today and a very good prospect.
Once again we were terrible 1st half, really boring 1st half to watch in all honesty, could of quite easily nodded off.
2nd half we were far better and should have took all 3 points.
Ok ish start to the season, something to build on. up the albs
we do have the makings of a decent team, we have, in the main players who are committed to the cause. the main weakness is a lack of a goalscorer, kinsey is looking a prospect, but he needs someone with experience alonside him. also when foy is playing we are very weak in midfield, and why oh why does he take coner kicks,schoolboys get better balls in than he does. he was no good the first time round, so why have we got him back again?
I actually went away from the game feeling positive, We are still definitely a work in progress. Unfortunately that showed on Saturday.
I think the manager has surprised a few with the quality of some of the close season aquisitions, and we really do need to remember that there is a lot of young players and the budget(not the be all and end all but v.important) is considerably lower than that of his predecessors and probably Warrington!
Final word, for the Wittoners - great to see so many of 'em there, some faces coming back into the club after a number of years away, the attendance was a hundred better than any league gate last season!
A little patience, a little bit of luck and a settled team/formation and lets see where it takes us.
Up the Albion!
Ched, that’s almost controversial!
I wouldn’t describe Kinsey as a ‘prospect’…I think he comes under the ‘experienced’ bracket himself! He needs young quick legs around him, using him as the fulcrum to build attacks.
Adam Foy was a mainstay of our team the last time he was here. He has worked hard to even get back to playing, so let’s cut him a bit of slack for the timebeing. If he can keep fit then he will be a very good player to have around the squad.
Yes must agree with what you’ve said about Kinsey there Robbo. We either need to adapt our style of play to accomodate him or get a Striker and a midfield man with pace to support him. His first touch and control are immaculate and he is capable of scoring himself but obviously Andy lacks the pace to play up front on his own which is why 4 4 2 is better for us with a pacy midfielder supporting the front two. I think the defence is brilliant with Kearns and Ben Harrison great at Central defence and good support from the full backs. I think I would like to see Matty Wood further forward though. After yesterday Peter H must play in the Centre with Macca and I think Josh Hancock deserves a run as does the new lad Paul Harrison. I think Adam Foy has done well to even get back so to have him on the bench is great. As regards Frosty he’s been brilliant but I think he’s still getting to full fitness so maybe a full 90 minutes is not quite possible yet. We definately need a striker, though you can’t fault the effort of Chris Smith. What I do like about the team is there 100% effort and their spirit so at this stage I’m ok with progress. I would like us to start from the off with 4 4 2 though because had we played the 1st half like we did the second we would have got all 3 points!
Speaking to the Chairman after the game he said it is work in progress and that Mr Ogden does know where we can improve. I’m sure these guys will not let things ride and will do there utmost to improve the team within the present budget.
Onward and upward lets do our best at Curzon!!
Very good post Mona, I’d agree with pretty much every line of that other than I think Heler is better in right midfield.
What I think we lack most at the moment is an ‘Alex Brown’ in midfield, now if only we could find one who fancies playing in Mid-Cheshire for 30 quid a week.
