WITTON ALBION 2 GATESHEAD 2
UniBond Premier League - Saturday February 16th
Team: Kennedy; Coo (Kearney 79), Pritchard, Barras, Brownhill; Peers, Brown, Lloyd, Brodie (Morning 68); Warlow & Thornley. Sub n/u Evans
Match Rating 5/5 MoM Adam Warlow
With the Wincham Park attendance boosted, following several local matches called off late, this top v third encounter proved to be top value entertainment throughout. Tynesiders’ manager Ian Bogie, with the visitors really needing all three points, chose an all out attacking formation that saw Witton uncharacteristically penned back in their own half for long periods in the opening forty-five minutes.
Rob Lloyd in the 5th minute following a nicely worked interchange of passes advanced into the box but sent his shot drifting wide of the left upright. Gateshead’s plan worked as in the 10th minute Graeme Armstrong, who’d been denied a couple minutes earlier when Jon Kennedy dived to clutch his headed attempt, appeared to have the freedom of the park before crisply picking his spot and hitting the ball into the top right corner of former Gateshead keeper Kennedy’s net.
The goal spurred the home team into action and it needed a fine save from Paul Musselwhite after Adam Warlow had shrugged James Curtis’s challenge aside. This was quickly followed up when Mark Peers lobbed attempt from 25 yards out dropped narrowly wide of the right post. Albion though got back on level terms in the 21st minute. Alex Brown’s threaded ball to ADAM WARLOW saw the striker turn smartly before curling the ball into the left hand side of Musselwhite’s goal.
Gateshead themselves reacted almost immediately but Kennedy was alert to seize a shot that took a wicked deflection. David Southern then produced fine work on the by-line with a neat ball to skipper Steven Bowey that saw the shot go narrowly over the bar. On 29 minutes the visitor’s incessant attacking style paid off again when a whipped in ball from the right from Craig Baxter was headed firmly past Kennedy by David Southern.
What looked from the press box a good shout for a penalty as Armstrong appeared to be shoved by Brian Pritchard were turned down by Liverpool referee Ian Edwards, why then he didn’t caution the striker then only the man in black knows! Shortly before the break both No 10’s had chances, seconds after Kennedy saved from Phil Turnbull Rod Thornley saw his clever lobbed effort fall wide of the target.
Witton came out with far more purpose for the second-half and brought the scores level within two minutes. Rob Lloyd showed great skill on the left of the area, rode a clumsy challenge before superbly centring for ADAM WARLOW to crash home his 24th goal of the season. Liam Brownhill then produced a wicked cross from the right but Musselwhite was equal to Warlow’s lashed attempt.
The home team played with far more confidence and attempts to preserve their 100% home league record rained in on Musselwhite’s goal. Defender Brian Pritchard making a Witton all-time record 605 appearance had several attempts that were either blocked or went narrowly wide although one header needed Curtis’s intervention, not spotted by the match officials, to send it over the bar. Steve Brodie just after the hour mark cut inside his marker but the visiting custodian scampered across his line to scramble the ball out for a corner. Peers then tried a couple of low 20 yarders, the first went whizzing past the right post whilst Musselwhite saved the second attempt. Following another nicely worked move Warlow’s headed effort went just wide.
Gateshead still posed a threat and twice in three minutes Kennedy was called on to produce the necessary saves as firstly he dived to smother Bowey’s shot before superbly tipping over a point blank range Armstrong header following a corner-kick.
In the end it has to be said that the single point each team ended with was far more beneficial for Witton and they extended their lead at the top to 11 points whilst maintaining their 16 point cushion advantage over Gateshead.
