UniBond League Challenge Cup ? Quarter Final
WITTON ALBION 1 MARINE 0 att 192
TEAM: Kennedy; Hockenhull, Pritchard, Spearritt, Brownhill (Barras 81); Connors (Moseley 75), Lloyd, Brown; Frost (Peers 69), Warlow, Jones G.
After the seven goal extravaganza seven days earlier both teams failed to come anywhere near repeating the entertainment in this cup-tie played with a biting wind blowing down the Britannia Carpets Stadium.
On 7 minutes though Rob Lloyd looked to continue last week?s scoring when he tried a lob from 20 yards out that just cleared the crossbar. Andy Ralph on the quarter hour mark initially flapped at a cross but as Carl Frost was shaping up to shoot the ex Albion and Vics custodian, destined for New Zealand at the end of the month, charged to the edge of the area to block Frost?s strong attempt. Liam Brownhill was next up to test the keeper but he comfortably saved at the base of the left post. Steve Connors then joined the shooting gallery but sent his fierce drive narrowly over the target.
Just after the half hour Brian Pritchard was on the end of a Lloyd flag kick but his headed attempt went just wide of the right post. Adam Warlow then produced good work evading three challenges but lost slight control and in the end his left footed attempt struck the side netting. However despite all their ascendance it was Peter Cumiskey who was guilty of missing a golden opportunity for the visitors as the match had entered 1st half stoppage time. Lee Mulvaney, having evaded his markers, made good ground down the right, Jon Kennedy came to narrow the angle and when the ball was played to Cumiskey, centrally placed he ballooned the ball well over the unattended goal.
Kennedy two minutes into the 2nd half produced a diving save as Cumiskey headed from close range and then Carl Nesbitt saw his shot deflected as Marine took the game to Witton. On 54 minutes Connors produced the classiest movement of the afternoon when he turned, advanced several yards before playing Warlow in. the striker shot in an instance but with half the crowd thinking that was the breakthrough the ball went a whisker past the left upright.
The crowd only had to wait a further four minutes for Albion to score the only goal and thus make it to the semi-finals for only the 2nd time in 27 seasons of trying. The all important strike came in the 58th minute when Carl Frost, wide on the right, centred and Alex Brown seemed to have an eternity with the ball at his feet. Several Marine defenders were in close attendance but not one of them tackled the midfield player. Striker GRIFF JONES was screaming for the ball and when eventually it was laid off to him he converted his 12th goal off the season with a rasping shot across keeper Andy Ralph and into the far side of the net. This goal earned him the privilege of not only netting Witton?s 100th goal of this season but also their 100th in this particular cup competition!
Brown on 65 minutes was centrally placed to receive Jones?s cross from the bye-line but headed straight at Ralph. Peers who?d replaced the unfortunate Frost who?d suddenly pulled up and limped off thoroughly dejected, then pulled the ball back from the right bye-line, Moseley left/missed/dummied and Pritchard lurking behind flicked the ball narrowly wide.
The final minutes saw Marine valiantly attempt to force the tie into extra-time but found Kennedy a massive obstacle as twice Cumiskey was denied and when the scorer of their great goal seven days previous Darren Brookfield blazed his shot over the bar with it went the Merseyside team?s hopes.
Lining up alongside Albion in the one-off semi-finals then are Fleetwood Town, Woodley Sports and the eventual winners of either Matlock Town/ Gresley Rovers/ Kidsgrove Athletic or Whitby Town.