Finished 1-1 for those not in the know, hard to make much sense out of the game apart from we probably made more crunching tackles today than we did the whole of last year and there was definitely a will to win attitude, at no time did we sit and settle for a point.
On the whole the more the squad plays together the better it will gel, plus its one more point than we had this time last year:laugh:
Thought we played well for the first 20 or so minutes,and after a few more matches we will be able to get a better idea about what standard this new team are capable of. To be honest I would have taken a point before the start of the game and I thought Frickley had more than enough chances to win it. In respect of the officials, to be fair I was stood directly alongside the assistant ref, when Witton had a big shout for a pen, neither the assistant or I could not see what happened, apart from that I thought the officials had a very “poor” game I don’t think they were biased at all, both sides were subjected to some what “strange” decisions. Don’t forget we must respect the officials it’s a FIFA directive.
Thought there were plenty of positives today. A point away is better for Frickley than our point at home but we showed signs that this team can build well over the next month or two. Given the amount of necessary changes in pre season (for trying players out, fitness, absences, etc), the lads have had very little time to play as a ‘first eleven’. You could see at times that the communication was not yet there, but that will come.
I was impressed by our overall fitness level and how we competed, we didn’t give up looking for the win. In particular I thought we started and ended the game well, perhaps losing our way a little in the middle of the second half. I don’t think the ref helped much, if this respect campaign is going to work at all then the standard of decision making still needs to improve first! The officials won’t get respect from people unless they control the game with consistency, the same set of rules apply to both teams!!! Surely respect to some degree has to be earned!
On balance a point was probably fair however we acquitted ourselves very well and demonstrated that there is plenty to come from the team this season. There were a lot more tackles, a lot more effort and commitment today than there were in many games last season. We already know that playing just pretty football and nothing else wins you nothing! I am sure that said that Nige will build a good footballing side, as that is his way, but I think we will be arguably more capable of grinding out results. We need an out and out goalscorer (simple to say, harder to find), but there is time to find one.
Nige and Andy have done well to get us this far so quickly and as Grazzer says we are a point better off than this time last season!!! There is a long way to go yet!
UniBond Premier Division – Saturday August 16th 2008
WITTON ALBION 1 FRICKLEY ATHLETIC 1 Attendance 322
TEAM: Smith G.; Dunne, Pritchard, Coyne, Donnelly; Thornley B. (Gahgan 70), Willis, Drew, Smith S.; Thornley R. & Settle (Lugsden 85). Unused subs: Schwarz & Skelton.
With Albion fielding virtually a completely new team and Athletic shorn of players serving left-over suspensions then a point apiece seemed to be received equally well by both clubs.
Witton opened brightly and it took a very well timed latch ditch clearance from Chris Davies to deny stand-in striker Steve Settle an opening goal. A minute later the visitors’ keeper Adam Nicklin clutched on to Rod Thornley’s 20 yard shot. Chris Gowen was then somewhat fortunate that Nicklin scampered back to claim a poor back-pass.
Ironically it was from Frickley’s first opportunity of the game that Albion got their noses in front. Scott Brough, having seen his point-blank effort cannoning off home custodian’s Greg Smith’s legs, was subsequently caught out of position as Albion countered. Settle brought the ball upfield, squared to Mark Drew whose shot was fumbled out for a corner by Nicklin. Drew’s flag-kick then was helped on its way to ROD THORNLEY who headed home at the far post in the 14th minute.
This though only spurred the visitors but Lee Morris missed a good chance to equalise before Rob Pell failed to capitalise on a poor kick from Smith. Eventually though the equaliser came. A 34th minute free kick, awarded for a rash tackle from Scott Willis, saw Davies superbly pick out the head of ROB PELL to firmly head home.
Two minutes before the break Lee Morris saw his good long range shot palmed over the bar by Smith before Settle’s ball control, at the other end, failed him when one-on one with Nicklin.
The second period opened with claims for a penalty turned down as Willis burst into the area. Then on though it was somewhat void of good openings but Nicklin did well to keep out his team-mate Chris Gowen’s header following yet another well delivered dead-ball from Drew. Brian Pritchard nearly profited from another of Drew’s passes but headed the ball wide of the target. It was Athletic though that nearly secured the win but too many of their players converged on the ball at the far post to head it tamely out for a goal-kick.
Not quite " Brazil " yet but there were some positives today which we can build on when all the players are fully fit.
Keep the faith.
PS What happened to the half-time draw today ? (missed opportunity for some much needed cash ) Supporters on the popside asking .
I thought it was a fair result today, both sides trying to win the game, the ref was poor for both sides although the linesmen in my opinion had a terrible second half which went against us. The team needs time to get to know each other especially at the back, we may lack a little of the quality from last season but we certainly have a team that is willing to work a lot harder, My MOM was Pritch who wasn’t fully fit but put in some great challenges.
I asked about the half time raffle and apparently the people who were going to do it pulled out at the last minute and no one else could be found to do it at such sort notice, maybe a job for somebody if you want to help the club out?
Unfortunately, the 2 Liz’s who had volunteered, had been informed by their full-time employers that they were not allowed to run raffles in public.
Just an aside, it was nice to hear that some of our ex-players took time out to text Nige before the game, and wish him and WAFC all the best for our 1st game.
Was it the same players who were warming benches or left out of squads etc?..Just wondering:laugh:
I thought the new team had potential, once they gel I think that they will do well. I dont believe achieving a play off spot should be written off yet. Fc united and leigh genesis didnt set the world on fire in their opening matches either. Though on paper it should have been 3 points opening day is always a bit unpredictable (look at United yesterday, but I am sure they will still top the league come May).
We were robbed obviously of a clear cut penalty, the referee was beyond shocking. I thought the new keeper looked quite comfortable bar his kicking which was a big concern, hopefully he will work on that before he actually gives me a heart attack before the end of the season. We seemed to control the game for first 20 mins and struck some nice passes together. I only had two other concerns, they seemed to settle for a draw as the second half went on and didnt really push for a winner which was dissapointing when your at home to a bottom half table side missing several players. Another was the fact Nigel said he wanted to keep the attacking attractive style of football of last year and that was nowhere to be seen after 20 mins. It was endless long balls and the ball was never kept on the ground, and the pitch could not have been in a better condition for playing some nice football. Still, I suppose getting the long ball game in was practice for tomorrow at Prescot Cables’ ground;)
Come on Witton!
Frustratingly I couldn’t make it yesterday, however I am a little concerned that we should be sweeping a side like Frickley aside with ease, no matter which game of the season it is. As I said in my programme piece, I fully expect Frickley to be propping the table up come the end of the season and the general consensus of those present on Saturday is that they are a very poor team. It is understandably difficult to judge the abiliy of this side based on playing Frickley and Prescot as they both set themselves out to spoil the game, but if our new more passionate approach can’t break them down then what does our direct style achieve?
Not trying to be negative but we won’t be playing rubbish like Frickley every week…
well they did better then last season was 1-0 wasnt it but this season was 1-1:)
Newcastle drew with Man U. yesterday at Old Trafford, does that mean they will finsih level at the end of the season? Come on lads, it is early days, with so many changes I fully expected us to lose on Saturday, but we didn’t and that has to be a good sign. Surely, with time, we can only get better.
WHS.