Tuesday September 2nd 2008
WITTON ALBION 2 ILKESTON TOWN 0 attendance 271
TEAM: Smith G.; Scott, Schwarz (Thaker 67), Burke, Donnelly; Settle (Gouldbourne 78), Drew, Smith S. (Willis 52), Gahgan; Lugsden, Proffitt. Unused subs: Coyne & Millington.
Centre-back Garry Burke, who’d won a Cheshire Senior Cup medal with Albion whilst on a three match loan spell from Droylsden in 2006, had been recruited, ironically from Stalybridge this time took over the Brian Pritchard role and performed magnificently along with his fellow defenders and goalkeeper to record Witton’s first shut-out of the campaign.
Along the way they were certainly helped by the actions of a couple of the visitors in particularly. With only a quarter of the game gone Robert Scott was very well spotted by Bootle referee Joe Johnson exacting punishment to Kieran Lugsden’s kidney area whilst most people’s gaze was awaiting Paul Donnelly’s throw-in. Claims that Lugsden had stood on his toes instantly fell on deaf ears with the red card very quickly brandished. Town’s much heralded striker Amari Morgan-Smith dismissal was one that managers, coaches and team-mates totally abhor. Having been cautioned already for playing on in the 34th minute when an off-side decision had gone against him the hour mark then saw him throw himself to the ground and receive a second yellow for simulation.
So for the last third of the match Witton seemingly had the straight forward task of scoring against their nine remaining opponents. Not so and in fact it needed a very good diving save by Greg Smith to prevent Anthony Howell immediately snatching Town the lead against the odds. Ilkeston’s reduced numbers performed very well indeed and it wasn’t until new blood was injected by Nigel Deeley that finally saw some tired limbs amongst the visitors.
The breakthrough came in the 82nd minute after Dorryl Proffitt’s shot had been deflected for a corner. The flag-kick, being played back to PAUL DONNELLY saw the defenders get caught out and as they belatedly advanced the left-back launched the ball from outside the angle that deceived keeper Chris Adamson and curled inside the right hand post.
The total relief was clear to see and hear, Town’s manager David Holdsworth, within two minutes, used all three allowed substitutions but as they were still getting to the hectic pace of the match Albion struck again. Chris Gahgan produced his best pass of the evening, threading it through for DORRYL PROFFITT, making his full debut upon his return to Witton, was pushed to his left by Adamson but kept his composure to deftly slide the ball home from the tightest of angles. He duly ran to celebrate with the fans behind the goal, causing slight concern as he had been the only home player to have been cautioned, however Mr Johnson just ushered him back onto the field of play.
Albion much earlier had nearly got their noses in front in the 3rd minute, Steve Settle fouled on the edge of the box saw Mark Drew’s resultant free-kick struck very well only for Adamson to block equally well and then save when Drew struck the rebound. The midfielder, following the first dismissal, also fired in a shot that whistled over the crossbar before two minutes before the interval another free-kick was too hot to handle but Burke only found the side netting from Adamson’s parry. Steve Smith went close following a nice move across the park as the half ended.
Whether Donnelly’s strike was fully intended might be open to discussion but six minutes before he netted he had attempted another 25 yard shot that was deflected onto the crossbar off a Town defender.