Witton Albion JFC

Sunday lunch cancelled – check.
Church deferred to the evening service – check.
Trendy lunch in Knutsford postponed – check.
Parents are happy – check.
All players fit – check.
Weather perfect – check
Manager relatively sane – ?

Wow - the Witton injury list was empty after a torrid August to October period. Wittoners welcomed Middlewich Centurions to Northwich following a somewhat fractious league opener in September that featured a number of bookings and harsh words.

Early on the teams exchanged a series of meaningless missed passes and false calls but Witton clicked - into gear - with Sam H single-handedly building attacks from left-back and the pressure was rewarded when Thomas headed into the net from almost 20 cm out. The red-and-white-stripes were finding their mojo; Jack cruised past four players to knock in a splendid goal via the far post. Then, joy, Dan motored rapidly onto a fantastic Theo through-ball only to be comprehensively wiped out by the Middlewich stopper to earn a penalty. Despite the querulous protests from the Middlewich management team, Dan stepped up to smash home his first goal of the season. Elliot W – unusually appearing early enough to be in the starting line-up - was wrestling magnificently and got a few speculative shots at the wary Middlewich custodian. Harry, tireless in defence was raiding forward and Tom began to push purposefully and a wonderful cross was woefully, nay cruelly, unused by the attackers as Witton dominated.

After a half team-talk comprising of; moaning from the manager, warnings from the Chief and an upbeat conclusion from the Goalie Coach the Albs stepped out brightly and carved out some desultory openings. Nonetheless, the Centurions probed forward and an excellent Elliot (no sprouts today) J save proved to be the pivotal moment as Middlewich collapsed. “Bring on the bombs” was the shout as Nathan secured another clinically secured and taken penalty – then Luke got angry (and Cheryl lowered the camera) and decided to weave his way through the opposition defence at will to claim a goal, before Jack raided “Bolt-style” down the left to set up Keegan for the first of two neatly taken goals. Ollie toiling away in midfield, was unlucky not to claim a goal, but with the lesser seen Fin H merrily dancing around the Middlewich defence it was a comfy win for the Albs with Tommy showing flexibility in the left back position – goals will surely come from these three soon.

After the game the opposition management sprinted off without a word or a handshake to the referee, swiftly followed by Elliot W who, upon leaving the water bottles, has surely condemned himself to a season of pranks and punishments. “We’ll take that all day, Wilko doing the water bottles foreverrrr” chanted the Wittton management team as they danced on the Cheshire FA wheelie bin.

Captain’s Man of the Match: Luke
Managers man of the Match: Thomas
Magic moment: Dave, Matt, Emma, Keegan XXXX
Quote of the day: “if Thomas can score a goal, anyone can”