Witton v Ashton

First Team On the Park
1

Well its not just Santa who has to work today so while I was stuck in here I thought I’d have a look at the local papers build up for the big game on Boxing Day, nothing there so had a look over at Ashtons and found the following, nice compliment from their manager.

Manager Danny Johnson was really pleased with the way his team performed at Gateshead on Saturday but stressed that his team will need to raise their game even further if they are to get anything from the match at Witton on Boxing Day. Danny explains ‘In the bar afterwards a number of people asked me what I had said to the players at half time but I honestly believe it was the first half showing that enabled us to come away with a point from Gateshead. We had to change our shape and tactics very early on in the game to cope with Gateshead’s system and I can’t praise the lads enough, especially Matty O’Neill and Iain Howard who put their normal games to one side and stuck to the task that I asked of them. Gateshead were awesome for the entire 1st half but they failed to break us down as much as their dominance would have indicated. We then had a real go at them in the 2nd half and the introduction of both Dean Canning and Ryan Moore gave them something different to think about after Barry Massay had put his weight about a bit! However, we must improve on that performance if we are to give Witton a run for their money on Boxing Day as they are, in my opinion, in a league of their own’.

2

How’s the pitch looking?
Will it need extra work in the morning?
Here’s two forkers from Sandach on standby :smiley:

3

It won’t be an easy game tomorrow. Ashton are a strong team with one or two excellent individuals. I remember the No 7 last year running the show at their ground. Still, we should have Lloydy back and it’s Peersy’s last game of his suspension. Hopefully 3 points and a bumper attendance tomorrow and of course Sat v Buxton. First home league game for a while, should help to bolster the gate.
See you all then !

4

Witton v Ashton: preview
By Andrew Simpson

Witton Albion v Ashton United (ko 3pm)
UniBond Premier Division
Venue: Wincham Park
Odds (bet365): Witton 3/10, Draw 7/2, Ashton 7/1
Previous meeting: Witton 6 Ashton 1

Witton (from): Kennedy (GK), Coo, Spearritt, Pritchard, Barras, Kearney, Brownhill, Dillon, MacPherson, Wood, Brodie, Warlow, Thornley, Wilson
Doubtful: Lloyd (dead leg)
Injured: Brown (knee), Craven (hamstring)
Suspended: Peers (one match)
Form guide (last six home): L W L W W W
Top scorer: Adam Warlow (18)

Ashton (from): Rooney (GK), Armstrong, Caldecott, Furnival, Gibbons, McCartney, Bennett, Forde, Garvey, Howard, McManus, O’Neill, Smith, Canning, Fitzpatrick, Massay, Moore, Richards, Taylor
Doubtful: none
Injured: none
Suspended: none
Form guide (last six away): D D L L D W
Top scorer: Iain Howard (7)

Match pointers
ASHTON have already lost to Albion twice this term and won’t want reminding of what happened when they visited Wincham Park.

Jim Vince’s men doled out a 6-1 thrashing in the FA Trophy in October as they ruthlessly exposed the gulf in quality between the top and bottom of the UniBond Premier Division.

With the Witton boss still away Nigel Deeley continues at the helm for today’s clash. He hopes to recall Rob Lloyd after the midfielder missed Saturday’s win at Frickley with a dead leg. Alex Brown is also missing as he continues his comeback from a knee operation, while Mark Peers serves the final game of his three-match ban.

Danny Johnson’s Ashton scored a superb draw at Gateshead at the weekend thanks to Dean Canning’s late leveller, but they have only bagged four points from the past 18 to leave them penultimate bottom of the division’s six-game form guide.

11:00am today

5

Team for today

Kennedy

Coo
Brownhill
Pritch
Barras

Wilson
Macpherson
Wood
Brodie

Thornley
Warlow

Subs
Kearney
Lloyd
Rutter

6

1-0 to the Albs, Wilson free kick

7

2 - 0 now!

8

Warlow header from a wood cross ;D

9

2-1

10

A busy few minutes now 2-1

11

FT 2-1 ;D

12

What a tough game. Very spirited performance from Ashton, it took a lot of hard work from our midfield to eventually prise the three points. Wood and Wilson looked to be a little more at home but I for one will be pleased to see Mark Peers and Rob Lloyd re-instated, not forgetting Alex Brown.
Still 10 points clear. Two great goals today, Adam’s was a fantastic header after great work from Macca.
Looking forward to Sat against Buxton, should be a thriller.
Come on Wiiitttteeeeeeeerrrrrnn !

13

I have just seen that todays attendance was 495 a little down on what I was hoping for BUT that gives us an average of 395 for the 10 home league games this season, I’m expecting a good following from Buxton on Saturday as they were without a game today and a few clubs have had their highest gate versus Buxton so hopefully a 500+ crowd pushing us well over the 400 average going into the new year for the first time in quite a few seasons.

14

And just carrying on from that the first 10 league games of last season brought in an average of 275, so we are up 120 people a game so far this year, so well done to everyone for providing what must be one of the largest increases in terms of % in any league, that is down to EVERYONE from Jim and Nigel improving the team, the players for the results and all you guys working so hard off the field, well done to all.

15

Not a great gate, but swelled by the 10 Ashton fans ::). Not one of our better displays, Ashton worked very hard, but we made so many un-enforced errors simply giving the ball away. Hey another three points ;D
My man of the match, Pritchard again. Couple of tough games in the next week.

16

Every game is going to be tense and tough now and this one certainly was.
2 Great goals and 3 pts - enough said.
Agree with ME - MoM Pritch,but closely follwed by JK.

17

Great free kick from Wilson, think Cavell deserves a mention thought he had a good game.Wilson seemed to get very tired in the last 20.

18

I thought the gate was pretty good considering they just scrapped double figures in terms of away support. The gate will be much higher on Saturday but with a very similar home turn out I’d expect.

Game was ok, personally I think we are having our bad patch now but its not being highlighted as we’ve been fortunate not to loose a league game due to the quality in the squad. So although we are not at our best - this type of display wins you leagues.

Lets hope for a better performance on Saturday but as long as we get something from the game no one should argue.

19

UniBond Premier Division – Boxing Day 2007

WITTON ALBION 2 ASHTON UNITED 1 att. 495

Team: Kennedy; Coo, Pritchard, Barras, Brownhill; Wilson, Wood (Lloyd 67), MacPherson, Brodie; Warlow & Thornley (Rutter 90+2). Sub n/u Kearney.
Man of Match Brian Pritchard.

Two goals in two minutes seemed to settle the nerves of both team and the near 500 home supporters against an Ashton United team who were prepared totally differently from the same team that were humbled in this season’s previous F.A. Trophy tie. However from the moment the visitors pulled a goal back it was very much a case of trying to restrict their advances. When the lively forwards did get to evade Albion’s defenders some pretty poor finishing, coupled with the sheer presence and handling of Jon Kennedy, ensured Albion went on to make it a club record 10 straight season’s opening home wins. It was back in the Cheshire League Championship season of 1953/54 that saw Winsford United, coincidently on Boxing Day, take a share of the points away from the old Central Ground after Stuart Cowden had earlier led his team to nine straight league triumphs!

Albion had the first attempt on goal in the 2nd minute with Steve Brodie’s 20 yard effort easily claimed at his feet by Damien Rooney. The visitors then mounted a lot of pressure and won a couple of corners before Rod Thornley eased matters by bringing the ball upfield, laying off to Neil Wood who sent Liam Brownhill in on goal but his shot went over the bar. Rooney then held Thornley’s shot before Kyle Wilson, again proving a good deputy for Mark Peers, sent a shot over the bar. Shortly after Brodie saw his next attempt go wide an exciting move involving Wilson and Thornley saw the ball lifted to the far post where Cavell Coo was only just denied a clear shot on goal by a latch ditch challenge.

From a Wood corner Brian Pritchard sent a headed attempt narrowly wide of the left post. As Albion continued searching for the breakthrough Wirral referee Brian Robinson became villain of the peace, he’d already harshly cautioned Pritchard but when Matty O’Neill, in his desperate attempt to clear, looked to have clearly controlled the ball with his hand whilst down on the ground no penalty kick was awarded. Witton only had a couple more minutes though to wait for in the 36th minute a clumsy challenge 25 yards out that saw Ian Fitzpatrick rightly cautioned was further punished when KYLE WILSON curled the free-kick over the wall and into the top left hand side of the net with Damien Rooney totally helpless and a little unprepared as he tried to scamper back from the opposite post.

From the restart Albion soon gained possession and continued attacking, Dave MacPherson firstly took the ball to the left of the area before selling a dummy to two defenders by checking back and finding Neil Wood. The fellow midfielder lifted the ball high towards the far right post and leaping higher than his markers ADAM WARLOW sent his header over Rooney to make it 19 for the season and thus maintain his lead at the top of the UniBond scoring charts. Albion continued in search of further goals but Warlow was just off target when he sent a screamer of a shot across the face of goal.

A minute later though Ashton halved the deficit when the ball was sent down the right before being clipped back from the edge of the box, although the initial shot was well blocked the ball landed at Ben Smith’s feet, he initially went to his right to shoot but MacPherson managed to block but Smith cleverly held possession before moving sideways and sending a left foot low shot to Kennedy’s right.

Seconds into the second half Thornley’s shot evaded Rooney but struck the body of Danny Caldecott stood on the goal-line. Ten minutes later Rooney came out quickly to beat Warlow’s effort away for a corner. In the main though we saw Witton having to contain the lively wing attacks of both O’Neill and Iain Howard, the star of their show was the tall Barry Massay, leading the line, who probably gave Pritchard and Tony Barras their hardest times of this season. When O’Neill was substituted there was no respite, for introduced was Dean Canning, who’d previously scored for Leek, against Witton and also got United’s equaliser at Gateshead the previous Saturday.

In one particular attack Howard evaded Coo and it took a good diving save by Kennedy to whip the ball away as the winger shaped up to shoot. In an increasingly rare Albion attack Rooney spilled Brodie’s low shot but the danger was cleared before a Witton player could get upfield in support such was the depth they were having to defend. Rob Lloyd had replaced Wood shortly before and looked to have shaken off his leg problem. Kennedy with five minutes remaining bravely went down to smother yet another attempt on his goal and needed treatment before continuing. Tom Rutter was introduced to UniBond Premier football part way through the considerable period of stoppage time before finally the singing Santas along with the rest of Wittoners could finally relax save in the knowledge their team were still ten points clear.

20

Got into a bit of a disagreement with Robbo Snr when i got home last night. It started with him labelling Thornley as ‘lazy’ (??), and claiming that we are ‘weak’ in attack (??). He then went on to offer me a £5 bet that we wouldn’t finish in the Top 3.

When i made him a counter-offer of £50, he bet me £50 that we wouldn’t win the league. I took the bet.

Come on Witton, let’s see my Dad £50 out of pocket in May!!