Lets get going, any thoughts on the upcoming game?
We really need to win this one and get back to winning ways, we need to put last week behind us. Plenty of encouragement is required on Saturday from the whole ground, not just behind the goal. Weâre TOP of the leage, letâs keep it that way.
COME ON THE ALBION!
Without doubt, the Leek game on Saturday is the biggest game of the season so far. We simply cannot afford to lose, we need 3 points going into the Gateshead game next week. Hopefully we can win and find some form in the process but it certainly wonât be easy. Fleetwood beat one of their bogey teams on Tuesday, lets hope we do the same on Saturday
We need to make lots of noise today, this is a massive game. Lets really get behind the team.
Come on witton!!!
Witton v Leek: preview
By Andrew Simpson
Witton Albion v Leek Town (ko 3pm)
UniBond Premier Division
Venue: Wincham Park
Odds (bet365): Witton , Draw 4/1, Leek 15/2
Previous meeting: Witton 3 Leek 4
Witton (from): Kennedy (GK), Coo, Pritchard, Barras, Kearney, Brownhill, MacPherson, Lloyd, Brown, Peers, Brodie, Thornley, Warlow, Evans, Rapley
Doubtful: none
Injured: none
Suspended: Rutter (one matches)
League form guide (last six home): W D W W W W
League home record: P14 W13 D1 L0 F41 A9 Pts40
Top scorer: Adam Warlow (24)
Leek (from): Cooper (GK), Thompson, Tickle, Scott, Wayne Johnson, Matty Johnson, Prescott, Ward, Booth, Hawthorne, Danylyk, Heath, Oakes, Briscoe, Hopley, Bagley, Edwards, Walshaw
Doubtful: Brannan (hamstring)
Injured: Alexander (knee), Wood (knee)
Suspended: none
League form guide (last six away): L L D L W W
League away record: P15 W5 D2 L8 F23 A29 Pts17
Top scorer: Louis Briscoe (18)
Match Pointers
JIM Vince has challenged his players to bounce back from last weekendâs reverse at Prescot Cables.
But rather than writing off that performance he says he hopes Albion learn from their troubles on Merseyside.
âWe need to take the chances we make,â he told the Guardian.
"Leek will be a better team than Prescot but as Iâve said all along itâs not about them, itâs about what we do.
âWeâve worked hard in training this week and the players have a good understanding of what will be expected of them over the remaining 10 matches.â
Knowing his unhappiness with Albionâs profligacy last time out, Vince could call on Kevin Rapley for his first start since signing from Barrow.
But, with Adam Warlow, Rod Thornley and Tony Evans all vying for a place he is spoilt for choice.
The Witton boss has another dilemma in midfield where Mark Peers will be pushing for a recall after starting Saturdayâs game from the bench. Alex Brown, Rob Lloyd and Dave MacPherson are fighting over two places at the heart of midfield.
Opponents Leek fought back from 2-0 down to earn a 3-3 draw with fellow strugglers Whitby Town on Tuesday following back to back defeats against Buxton and Frickley Athletic.
New signing Jamie Walshaw was on target for Blues in that game. He has been joined at Harrison Park by defender Matty Johnson and winger Dominic Heath in the past seven days.
Wayne Johnsonâs men are viewed by Wittoners as their bogey team, particularly after a shock Boxing Day win at Wincham Park last season. They also held Albion to a 2-2 draw earlier this season.
They come to town lying in penultimate bottom and four points from safety. Former Witton players Dave Tickle and Ant Danylyk will be in their team and they come face to face with ex-Leek midfielders Brown and MacPherson plus front runner Thornley.
Strangely Blues have won five matches on the road this term, winning only once in front of their own supporters
Peers penalty 1 - 0, right on half time.
2-0 a bit of magic from Rob Lloyd
Great stuff, wish Gateshead game was a league one, they are down 0-1. Felt sorry for Sir Alex, the nasty referee didnât give all the decisons to Scum, the ref obviously does not know you have to give ALL decisions the Scum way or Sir Alex will cry!!!
WHS.
Any news on Fleetwood at Whitby?
WHS.
Fleetwood are 1-0 up
Gateshead are 1-1 and hopefully heading for extra time
Buxton were 1-0 up at HT
3 - 0 McPherson
Final score 3 - 0.
Well now we know waht we have to do; gat something at Gateshead and Marine and Guiseley, 6 points would be great but I would settle for 5.
WHS.
Well played today lads, we created a lot of chances and could have scored more than 3. peersâs penalty was well taken and we pushed on from that point. one Disappointment was the atmosphere there was no singing at all:unsure:
We are top of the league!!!
Other full times from the league:
Ashton United 3 North Ferriby United 1
Guiseley 1 Buxton 2
Marine 3 Lincoln United 1
Ossett Town 3 Matlock Town 1
Whitby Town 0 Fleetwood Town 1
And the league cup:
Eastwood Town 3 Frickley Athletic 1
Skelmersdale United 2 Gateshead 2 aet
Skelmersdale won 4-2 on penalties.
Witton Albion 3 Leek Town 0
Witton Albion: Kennedy, Coo, Brownhill, Pritchard, Barras (Capt), MacPherson, Brown, Lloyd (Brodie 85), Warlow, Thornley (Rapley 72), Peers (Evans 80).
Leek Town: McGing, Hawthorne, Tickle, Ward, W Johnson (Brennan 46), Armstrong, Hopley (Heath 71), Danylyk (Capt), Briscoe, Walshaw (Frost 65), M Johnson
GOALS either side of half-time were enough to end this as a contest and keep the league leaders ahead of the chasing pack.
With both sides in need of the points for different reasons there was little to separate them in the opening half hour.
The visitors should have taken the lead on 34 minutes, a cross from the right wing fizzed across the Witton box and Tom Walshaw blasted over the bar at the back post, when it looked easier to have scored!
Witton responded by upping the tempo and a series of opportunities followed with the front two of Warlow and Thornley causing problems for the Leek defence.
On the stroke of half-time Adam Warlow was felled to the ground by Leekâs former Albion keeper Phil McGing. Referee Pollock had no alternative but to point to the spot and only the retreating defenders saved the keeper from being shown to the stands. Peers dispatched the spot kick fiercely into the bottom left corner sending the keeper the wrong way.
The home side doubled their lead within two minutes of the restart. Rob Lloyd turned the path of the ball around a defender and went through to slot left-footed past the oncoming keeper.
Witton had chances to increase their lead with Lloyd, Barras and Brownhill all coming close.
The third did eventually come on 85 minutes. Cavell Cooâs searching run into the box ended with a through ball to substitute Tony Evans, with the ball under his feet he managed to roll it level to Dave MacPherson. The former Leek captain dispatched a low drive through the legs of a defender to crown an excellent display.
Lloyd and MacPherson paraded a midfield masterclass, their respective goals were justifiable reward for performances suited to a much larger stage than the Unibond league.
Match Rating: 4/5
Star Men: Lloyd/MacPherson (if only one then MacPherson based purely on the amount of the pitch covered and for the energy expended over 90 minutes).
On the behalf of Leek Town football club i would like to apologise for the racial abuse towards cavell coo today. There is no place for this in football and as soon as it happen the referee had a word with the person in question and he was escorted out of the ground
Agree that MacPherson was immense today. When he keeled over with cramp near the end I thought heâd earned it!
We won because we stuck to the principle of playing possession football and never panicking.
The other factor which will help determine the outcome of this league is the state of the pitch; I havenât seen it look this good so far into a season. We can outpass anyone on a surface like that. We were below par last week but a terrible lump of turf did us no favours. Today the team showed what they can do when running with the ball is possible.
Onwards and upwards.
Sorry not there today, I am down with Bronchitis.
WHS
Any one tell us why we had the Italian flag flying today, instead of the Union Jack?