Witton team news & latest score updates will appear here as and when they become available.
Team news: Witton make seven changes to the starting line-up which exited the Integro League Cup at Mickleover on Tuesday night. Calvin Hare, Danny McKenna, River Humphreys, Michael Wilson, Tom Owens, Rob Hopley & Steven Tames all start. Ryan Neild, Anthony Gardner, Nick Ryan, Anthony Brown & Paul Williams drop to the bench. Will Jones begins a three-game suspension. Micah Evans drops out.
Calvin Hare, Danny McKenna, Matty Devine, River Humphreys, Michael Wilson, James Foley, Owen Dale, Tom Owens, Rob Hopley, Prince Haywood, Steven Tames.
Subs: Paul Williams, Anthony Brown, Nick Ryan, Anthony Gardner, Ryan Neild.
GOALLLL
Latest Score from The NetDec Stadium:
Witton Albion 1 Whitby Town 0.
Michael Wilson puts Albion ahead on 14 minutes - his shot beats Town keeper Jack Norton following a short corner.
Witton close to a second on 23 minutes - Tom Owens effort goes just over the top.
Whitby’s first attempt at goal on 24 minutes - Lewis Maloney’s shot comfortably saved by Albion keeper Calvin Hare.
Owen Dale’s free-kick on 26 minutes goes over the top.
James Foley goes close for Witton on 34 minutes.
Prince Haywood free-kick on 39 minutes goes just wide.
Half Time Score from The NetDec Stadium:
Witton Albion 1 Whitby Town 0.
Michael Wilson 's goal separates the two sides but Witton have had chances to extend their lead.
Prince Haywood shoots wide on 51 minutes.
Yellow card:
Witton’s River Humphreys on 74 minutes.
The Seasiders pressing for an equaliser - Matty Tymon’s shot blocked then headers from Kieran Weledji & Substitute Anthony Hume are cleared off the line on 77 minutes.
Witton Substitution:
Prince Haywood replaced by Paul Williams on 82 minutes.
Witton Substitution:
Owen Dale replaced by Nick Ryan on 90 minutes.
4 minutes of added time.
Full Time Score from The NetDec Stadium:
Witton Albion 1 Whitby Town 0.
Attendance: 229.
A really hard fought game with the Albion on the back foot for a large part of the second half after dominating the first when we could have had more than 1 goal to show. A strong defensive display saw us see out the game and claim all 3 points. Up to 8th and play offs still a possibility. I think the team thinks so, but not sure the supporters do. Rugby on the telly, but a poor gate none the less on a bright, cold winters afternoon.
We didn’t start with much intensity today and coasted through the first half. Second half we didn’t really get going again and we were on the back foot for most of it. River Humphries was the best player on the pitch today by a country mile. A decent result though and a clean sheet was a bonus but the attendance was very poor. Is this the future of non league football?
I thought we were decent first half and could/should have been 2 or 3 up at the break. Second half we didn’t get going and somehow hung on for the 3 points. A good 3 points all the same and as always the effort of the players was faultless.
Agree re the crowd but not sure what else can be done that hasn’t already been tried. People are more content to sit in the warmth of their homes with sky/bt sports on all day end of. Looking at other clubs attendances in our league today we are certainly not on our own with this problem. We will always have the 200/300 hardcore though with a fantastic stadium and brilliant volunteers. So all isn’t too bad. UTA
Good result so well done to the lads. Good point on the crowd, I’m guilty. (not sitting on my arse to be fair).
Overall we were just about worth the win, first half we were all over them and had numerous half chances to go 2-0 up, second half Whitby had much the better of the game but our impressive back 4 held well and Rivers clearance of the line was brilliant and he was my MOM also.
Re the gate it was freezing and a big rugby game on so maybe expected but having great volunteers and a super stadium does not pay the bills unfortunately, We need to still raise funds over and above the gate receipts. UTA