UniBond Premier Division Saturday February 24th 2007
WITTON ALBION 7 WHITBY TOWN 2 att 412
TEAM: Kennedy; Spearritt (Hockenhull 58), Pritchard, Barras, Brownhill; Peers (Proffitt 65), Lloyd, Brown, Connors (Clegg 55); Warlow, Moseley.
The Britannia Carpets Stadium highest league crowd of the season were treated to a scintillating display by the home team and an individual 5 Star Scoring spree from Adam Warlow.
Until they got two consolation strikes in the final 20 minutes Town, who had play-of aspirations of their own, could only show 3 corner kicks to their credit. The 5th minute saw Steve Connors?s through ball intercepted but the ball screwed off a defender and WARLOW ran on to round keeper Jack Norton before planting the ball into the unguarded net. Rob Lloyd then saw his shot flash across the face of the goal before Norton pulled off a good save when he pushed Alex Brown?s driven shot onto the upright. On 22 minutes a Lloyd in swinging corner from the left was met by Warlow but his glancing header just evaded the far post. Five minutes later though a superb defence splitting pass from Neil Lloyd arrived at Mark Peers?s feet, he whipped in a cross that although Mike Moseley just failed to reach there was WARLOW lurking at the far post to crisply convert.
On 33 minutes another Lloyd corner looked to be destined for the far corner of the net only for Alex Janes to head off the line. The next move then saw Danny Farthing suitably placed on his goal-line but not really knowing too much about it to deny Moseley following a smart cross ball from Warlow. A minute after Town had Graham Robinson straight red carded (he?d received a yellow 8 minutes earlier) for kicking Connors right in front of referee Duncan, Albion went 3-0 up in the 37th minute, following excellent approach work from Peers and a Tom Spearritt cross that WARLOW headed home to claim his hat-trick. With half-time beckoning an audacious back-heel from Moseley shaved the post after Norton could only parry Brown?s free-kick.
Three minutes after the break Liam Brownhill?s dazzling diagonal run saw him then clip the ball across and although Norton got his hands to WARLOW?s shot the ball still entered the net. The 53rd minute then saw Connors bowled over in the box only for the referee to wave play on. 5 minutes later PEERS himself, with the sorry visiting defenders totally mesmerised, fairly lashed the ball into the roof of the net. The very happy Wittoners then had to wait10 minutes before it was six for their team, substitute Dorryl Proffitt got into good position in the area but missed a chance himself, however the ball ran to WARLOW who finished clinically to take the long-term loanee from Crewe Alexandra?s total on to 25 for the season. Quickly after it was only a fingertip save from Norton that denied the striker.
Albion then took their feet off the accelerator and following a clumsy challenge by Proffitt against James Drinkall, Danny BRUNSKILL converted a 72nd minute spot-kick. It was Town?s own leading scorer BRUNSKILL who then capitalised on Albion defenders themselves holding back when he fired past Jon Kennedy 8 minutes later. The afternoon?s scoring though was left to the ?veteran? Albion striker MIKE MOSELEY on 83 minutes, following a great through ball from Ross Clegg and a lay-off from Proffitt, who fired his shot across Norton to register his 145th goal for the club.
There was still time left though for Norton to produce a good flying save to deny Brownhill before Tony Barrass saw his effort cannon against the woodwork.
More Stats, following this excellent result:-
[i][b]Not only did Albion move up to 2nd in the table but Adam Warlow is now in a similar position at the top of the UniBond League scorers.
The 7-2 result is the highest league victory since the same score-line over Stocksbridge Park Steels in January 2002.
It was in November 1983 that this Premier Division result was bettered, Horwich RMI suffering a 7-1 mauling at the Central Ground.
Adam Warlow?s personal 5 goal tally is the best since John White netted 5 against Netherfield (Kendal) in February 1982. He therefore can now add himself to the auspicious list of Frank Fidler, George Stubbs, Trevor Ogden and Peter Henderson.
A look at all the league tables displayed on the teletext/ceefax services shows Albion?s tally of 71 to be the highest of any other team -not only in England but Scotland and Wales ? and we?ve played fewer matches! [/b] [/i]
