Witton Albion JFC

Following the friendly game the previous week it was back to league action. The Warriors needed just a single point to clinch the top spot in Division 4 and took on Barnton FC Juniors on a day that also marked the final home game of the season with the cricket club needing to prepare the pitch for the forthcoming cricket season.

In our previous game against Barnton back in December the Warriors had been given a scare and just scrapped a 2:1 victory with a late winner. The boys were warned that there was to be no complacency in this game.

The motivated Warriors got off to a strong start and dominated the early ball possession. In just the third minute Callum was put through by Ewean but saw a well hit shot cannon back off the crossbar. Just a minute later Callum got his goal with a low shot to put the Warriors on their way. Oli had attacked down the right wing and crossed into Robbie. Robbie squared to Callum to present the shooting opportunity. 1:0.

Barnton were defending well with most players behind the ball which forced the Warriors to work hard with their offensive play. The lead was extended on 13 minutes. Ewean played a through ball to put Callum beyond the defenders. Callum checked his run and played a ball back to the incoming Robbie to score. 2:0.

Half time 2:0.

It is a mystery why Barnton are so low in the league. In both this game and the previous match we played against them they have been very competitive. In the 33rd minute Barnton were unlucky not to score. Mason saved a goal bound shot with an outstretched dive and collected the ball at the second attempt.

The Warriors were pushing forward in pursuit of more goals. In the 35th minute Harry struck the bar with a drive before Liam also hit the cross bar following up.

The cross bar challenge was to continue. On 39 minutes Ewean passed forward to Harry who turned and hit a shot from the edge of the area again striking the bar.

After 41 minutes Oli got forward and hit an angled shot across the keeper but just wide of the far post. With three quarters of the game gone and Barnton keeping the score down the Warriors moved into a higher gear and the game opened up. In the 45th minute Cathal intercepted a Barnton attack and passed forward to Liam, who in turn passed forward to send Harry on a solo run from the halfway line, he turned the Barnton defence inside out and scored a well-placed right footed shot past the keeper. 3:0.

The Warriors were fortunate in the 46th minute when a Barnton player hit a shot over the bar from close range.

In the 50th minute Robbie sprinted onto Liam’s pass to finish calmly past the keeper. 4:0.

In the 53rd minute a Barnton shot hit the cross bar (the fifth time in the game) and the follow up shot required a great save low down by Mason to keep the ball out of the net. Soon after Barnton scored to reduce the deficit. 4:1.

After 54 minutes Harry intercepted a Barnton throw in and raced from the half way line to score with a shot going in off the post. 5:1.

Barnton continued to pose a threat and had a shot hit the bottom of the post after 56 minutes.

In the closing minutes Witton scored three times. First Ciaran set up Robbie for his hat-trick with a shot into the roof of the net. 6:1.

Harry scored his hat-trick when a mis-kick by a Barnton player played him in to score with a low shot. 7:1.

With the last kick of the game Harry scored again. 8:1.

Man of the match was awarded to Harry, who with four goals was at the centre of the Warriors offensive play.

Following the game the players were awarded their winners medals and Ewean lifted the Div 4 winner’s trophy. Champions with four games to spare, has been a super effort by the team. During the course of a long season each and every player has contributed and had an affect on games leading to this success.

The next game is a league fixture against Hartford U12’s to be played at Leftwich High School.