Witton Albion JFC

The latest and twentieth game of the league season was an away game to Vale Juniors Congleton U12 Bears. It’s been said before and will be said again, Vale are definitely the Warriors bogey team and it proved to be the case yet again with a 2:1 loss. Vale are the Warriors Kryptonite!

Things got off to a bad start when Mason collided with the metal post of the goal frame during the team warm up. He took a heavy knock to the head but was brave enough to start the game. After five minutes it was becoming clear that he was a little distressed and the decision was made to pull him off for some R&R. Mason has so often proved to be courageous with his keeping but we needed to make sure he was ok. Brad took the goal keepers jersey for the remainder of the first half.

It was also clear early on that Vale were well up for the game too and their manager was driving them on vocally. Being top of the league the Witton team is a ‘prize’ for the opposition so the Warriors were going to have their work cut out to get a result from this game. Vale were fast to every loose ball and controlling the game.

A couple of long range shots greeted Brad in goals but were off target and he wasn’t troubled.

After a slow start the warriors started to get into the fast tempo and competitive nature of the game. On ten minutes a good passing move across the pitch ended with a shot by Liam over the cross bar.

In the twelfth minute a long defensive clearance by Vale completely hoodwinked the Warriors defence and their forward was allowed a clear run at goal. He rounded Brad’s dive and passed the ball into the empty net.

The Warriors were lucky not to concede again after 17 minutes when a header from a Vale corner went the wrong side of the post for them.

A long goal kick by Brad put the Vale defence in trouble but Callum’s shot was off target.

Just before half time Brad was called into action to make an excellent save after a fine Vale attack down their left. A goal mouth scramble resulted but the Warriors kept the ball out of their goal.

0:1 half time.

After a very lethargic first half we were glad to get the boys in for a regroup and team chat. Mason resumed his keeper duties and Brad dropped into the defensive line.

Witton made a much stronger start to the second half and in the 33rd minute a free kick taken by Ewean went just wide of the goal.

The improvement and team work continued with some fine play by Ewean down the Warriors right with a cross into Liam at the far post but he fired over.

With the Warriors pushing forward to get back into the game, Vale caught the Warriors on the counter attack in the 40th minute increasing their lead, 0:2, totally against the run of play.

The effort put into the second half is the positive to take from the game for the Witton team. The boys tried to breakdown the Vale defense but it wasn’t to be our day.
In the 44th minute a move involving Liam and Ewean down the left led to a shot by Robbie which was unfortunately off target.

A goal kick by the Vale keeper only found Callum on the edge of their box. Callum returned a shot which looked destined to find the roof of the net but a fingertip save put the ball out for a corner. The corner reached Callum in front of goal but his shot missed the target.

Ewean ran through the Vale defence on 49 minutes but his shot which beat the keeper was kicked off the goal line by a defender to safety.

With the Warriors pressing they got a goal back in the 50th minute when Oli crossed from the right wing to Callum who scored with a low shot into the bottom corner of the goal.

With 10 minutes to play and the Warriors on top the Vale team reverted to blatant time wasting tactics.

Two minutes after the goal Ewean’s goal bound shot was saved for a corner. The corner by Oli found Robbie but he shot over the bar. The same two combined in the 55th minute. Oli down the right wing crossed to Robbie but his outstretched shot went straight at the keeper.

In the final minute of normal time Vale counter attacked down the right. The cross into the box found an unmarked player but luckily for the Warriors he missed a sitter.

The Vale time wasting added a few minutes to the game. In a final push in time added on Callum’s volley took a deflection and went wide of the goal and with it the Warriors unbeaten record.

The second half was a great effort by the players and they should be pleased with their endeavours even if the result went against them.

Man of the match went to Liam who showed great determination not to lose and battled hard up to the final whistle.

Next weekend we are at home verses Hartford U12.