Witton V Marine

First Team On the Park
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From the Marine website;

Witton Albion - v - Marine
This coming Saturday, Marine travel to Northwich to face old rivals Witton Albion. For most of the past 40 years, the teams have faced each other most seasons, since Marine joined the Cheshire League in 1969, with both teams joining the Northern Premier League in 1979.

Both teams are enjoying a successful season as they strive to make the play-off positions at the end of the season. Witton lie in 6th place in the league, with 45 points from 24 games. However, they have games in hand over all the teams above them, and they would be 3rd if they were to collect maximum points from those games.

After an indifferent start to the season, Witton have lost just two of their last 14 league games. They are the league?s second highest scorers, trailing AFC Telford by just one goal, though they have played 4 games less than the league leaders. In their last 2 league games, they have beaten Lincoln Utd 6-0 and Kendal Town 5-1.

In the league game at the Arriva Stadium earlier this season, the teams played out an entertaining 2-2 draw, with the Mariners twice coming from behind.

Witton play at the Wincham Stadium, which is in Chapel Street, Wincham, Northwich. From the M6 at junction 19, follow A556 towards ?Northwich? for 3 miles then turn right at the beginning of dual carriageway onto A559. After ? mile turn right at traffic lights following A559. After a further ? mile turn left opposite the Black Greyhound Inn into Wincham Lane. Ground is ? mile on left immediately after crossing canal.

Witton joined the Lancashire League in 1891, then the Lancashire Combination, before becoming founder members of the Cheshire League in 1919. They remained there until 1979 when they joined the Northern Premier League. They had a couple of seasons in the Conference before being relegated back to the Northern Premier League. In 1992, they reached the final of the FA Trophy, having beaten Marine in the Semi-Final.

Contributed by Paul Lacey
1 Feb 2007

Neil, I’m in work again on Sat so can do updates if required

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It is possible that our visitors maybe missing one of our former players tomorrow, as Adam Farley was injured during the Mariners midweek cup defeat to neighbours Burscough.

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Will be in touch Picko

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Team; kennedy, hockenhull, brownhill, Pritch, Lioyd, Spearitt, Alx Brown, Connors, Warlow, Jones, Frost Subs; Moseley, Proffit, Clegg. [br][size=1]Posted on: February 03, 2007, 03:03:01 PM[/size][hr]One nil down :'([br][size=1]Posted on: February 03, 2007, 03:08:58 PM[/size][hr]1-1 equaliser from Rob Lloyd bent inside the far post from the edge of the area ;D[br][size=1]Posted on: February 03, 2007, 03:18:53 PM[/size][hr]1-2 down, fog getting worse Neil says he can’t see Kennedys goal so no idea what happened for the goal [br][size=1]Posted on: February 03, 2007, 03:20:44 PM[/size][hr]2-2 Lioyd again knocking in a brownhill cross from 6 yards … sounds a hell of a game!!![br][size=1]Posted on: February 03, 2007, 03:25:25 PM[/size][hr]3-2 up Jones from a Lioyd run and cross [br][size=1]Posted on: February 03, 2007, 03:36:02 PM[/size][hr]Neil is saying that should the fog get just slightly worse the game will be called off, borderline playable at the moment

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Hope it goes on and rthe score stays the same, COME ON THE ALBS!!!
WHS

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Ref has taken the players off, the floodlights have been put on to see if they improve things[br][size=1]Posted on: February 03, 2007, 04:24:42 PM[/size][hr]Ref is going to give it 15mins and then make a decision, can’t see things getting better myself you would think it can only get worse as it gets dark

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Bugger. Reminds me of when we were winning 3-0 against Kidderminster about 15 years ago when a swan flew into the power lines. We could really do without being another game behind.

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The ref is restarting the game… those fog sucking floodlights must be working![br][size=1]Posted on: February 03, 2007, 04:35:30 PM[/size][hr]The message is 4-2 bent toe boy, I’m guessing that is Mike Moseley lol

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What is Happening? How long to go? Are we still winning? Do I sound nervous?
WHS

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wonder how many people have a go at the officials who by the sound of it could of called todays match off

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5-2!!! Lioyd with his hatrick from the penalty spot, what a way to celebrate signing for us!!!

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Sweet days!!

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does make for derby dissapoinment this afternoon.[br][size=1]Posted on: February 03, 2007, 05:19:03 PM[/size][hr]massive result this one considering telford and hednesford both got beat.

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15:00 452 Fleetwood Town 1 vs. Gateshead 0

15:00 303 Grantham Town 0 vs. Frickley Athletic 0

15:00 292 Guiseley 2 vs. Kendal Town 1

15:00 350 Leek Town 2 vs. Hednesford Town 1

15:00 203 Mossley 0 vs. Prescot Cables 0

15:00 119 North Ferriby United 3 vs. Ashton United 0

15:00 159 Ossett Town 1 vs. Ilkeston Town 2

15:00 196 Radcliffe Borough 3 vs. Lincoln United 3

15:00 301 Whitby Town 1 vs. Burscough 0

15:00 304 Witton Albion 5 vs. Marine 2

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THIS CANNOT BE REAL!!! WE ALL MUST BE DREAMING SURELY? WE ARE GOING TO WIN THIS LEAGUE IF THIS IS NOT A DREAM.
WHS.

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We’re now the division’s top scorers, despite having played fewer games than all but Fleetwood. 57 goals from 25 games, entertaining stuff!

Up to date league table now on main site (accessed via ‘On the park’ section of menu).

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Well done boys!!!

Absolutely loved every minute of it today…we’re gonna win the league we’re gonna win the league and now yo’r gonna believe us and now you’re gonna believe us, now you’r gonna believe us…we’re gonna win the league!!

Proud to be a wittoner as always did us proud in bad conditions… Well chuffed for Rob Lloyd he had a cracking first half and got his hatrick.

Don’t wanna single anyone out another great team performance…tonight’s beers will taste all the much sweeter now for the third saturday on the run!! 16 goals in 3 games!! unbelievable [color=red]COME ON WITEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNNN!!![/color]
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

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PHEWWWWWWWWWWW - if one or two bits are wrong then blame the fog. Full marks to the Referee today thought Steve Rushton used commonsense throughout.

UniBond Premier Division Saturday February 3rd 2007

WITTON ALBION 5 MARINE 2

TEAM: Kennedy; Hockenhull, Pritchard, Spearritt, Brownhill; Connors, Lloyd, Brown; Frost (Moseley 72), Warlow (Proffitt 89), Jones G. (Clegg 83)

Albion not only had to twice come from behind to beat 3rd place Marine but also had to suffer the anguish of, when 3-2 ahead on the hour mark, a break in proceedings as match referee Steven Rushton called a temporary halt to events when the blanket of fog, that was prevalent throughout, got even thicker.

In the end though they continued their rich vein of scoring, 16 in last three matches, and closed the gap on all the leading teams still with several games in hands.

It was Marine that got their noses in front in the 7th minute, a right side corner kick saw the defence hesitate and in quick as a flash was Peter Cumiskey to score from close range. From a Rob Lloyd corner from the left Brian Pritchard tapped the ball to Carl Frost who saw his shot blocked before on 15 minutes ROB LLOYD collected the ball just inside the visitors? half, with Marine players holding back he worked his way into a central position before sending a low shot past Andy Banks.

Albion?s joy was short-lived and again it was a corner from the right that caused problems, Pritchard headed the initial danger away but the ball landed at the feet of Darren Brookfield and he hit a 25 yard screamer giving Jon Kennedy no chance at all. On 21 minutes though it was all square again, a Liam Brownhill cross saw the ball, with Frost shaping up, only headed away as far as Rob Lloyd and he fiercely struck home from 15 yards out.

Witton took the lead in the 32nd minute, Frost chased a long ball from Steve Connors to the left corner flag, he pulled the ball back to Lloyd who danced into the box passing a couple of opponents before centring and there was Griff Jones, sliding in between defenders to score his 11th goal of the season. 5 minutes from the break again Lloyd was the catalyst this time threading the ball to Adam Warlow whose curled effort just evaded the far post.

Connors hit a rasping shot six minutes into the 2nd period that saw the ball diverted narrowly wide. Warlow perhaps should have scored in the 68th minute but Banks saved with his legs and Connors following yet another good passing move saw his effort blocked. With the visitors now desperately hoping that the fog would see the match abandoned their worst fears were realised and the introduction of Albion?s Mike Moseley in the 72nd minutes effectively sealed their fate. Within a minute he?d gleefully struck home his 144th goal for the club, and 14th for this campaign, following good approach work from Connors and Jones.

A rare venture forward from the visitors required Brownhill to head Steve Hussey?s attempt from under the crossbar for a corner. In stoppage time Albion went nap when newly signed Dorryl Proffitt?s first touch saw him brought down by James Dever. Fittingly it was Rob Lloyd who stepped up to smash the spot-kick home and thus really celebrate his new playing contract at Witton, following several months on loan from Crewe Alexandra.

I couldn?t recall us ever sending Marine packing like this before but when checking found that we produced the same score-line in April 1982. As for scoring 16 goals in 3 consecutive league matches, well it is a post 2nd World War record! 15 having been recorded three times, you have to go back to Easter time in the 1937/38 season for an even better achievement. Albion registered 6-1, 7-2 and 6-2 victories over Wigan Athletic, Winsford United and Manchester North End respectively in Cheshire League fixtures.

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Awesome once again!! Full credit to the ref, he handled the game well and dealt with the fog issue in the best possible way. His attitude seemed spot on, and as a result he earned his respect from both the players and the fans.

Lloyd brilliant again, Brownhill is a real threat going forward at the moment, front 2 worked hard and held the ball up well. Can’t really comment on the goals we let in as couldn’t see a thing!!

Potentially the league is now a very real possibility. The next 6 weeks are crucial though. After the game at Gateshead on 10th March i’ll make my own predictions, until then we just need to keep on winning. BUT the top2 both have to come to WP, so there is every chance we could overhall them both.

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Well done Witton!! have obnly just logged on now to see the result as i have been watching and celbrating england beat scotland and this is all in front of scottish fans!! lol wat a great day!!! Cant believe we won 5-2 like!! and telford and hednesford lost!! COME ON WITTON!!