Is the title race over?

It’s perhaps premature to say definitively, but the final whistle on Tuesday felt like a significant moment.

The reaction of Shaw Lane’s players, and management team, suggested as much.

A 1-0 victory leaves the Ducks three points clear of Witton with as many matches left.

Their superior goal difference effectively means they will need to slip up in two of those, something that looks unlikely upon first glance at their remaining fixtures.

A team that has not lost at all in a Northern Premier League fixture in front of their own supporters this season will not fear a visit from either Chasetown or Stamford.

A trip on Easter Monday to Kidsgrove – where Basford, Lincoln and Newcastle have lost and Witton were held to a draw – is a more unpredictable prospect.

However the Grove have lost their past two games, and cannot finish any higher in the Division One South table.

 

Fortress Shaw Lane remains intact

Lincoln United were the last team to leave Barnsley with maximum points from a league game, and that was on January 19 of last year.

Shaw Lane had played 28 Division One South fixtures on their own pitch since, without losing, before they hosted Witton.

Albion knew the scale of their task, and neither the conditions – a strong wind – nor the playing surface helped them.

A bone-dry pitch, with plenty of bare patches, was no friend to their fluid, counter-attacking style.

The home team adapted better to both, despite a vociferous and sizeable visiting support creating an atmosphere that made it feel – particularly in the first half – like Carl Macauley’s men were the hosts.

They still created chances, most notably when Rob Hopley’s lobbed attempt dipped too and the Ducks’ custodian Jon Stewart reacted brilliantly to parry Brad Bauress’ drive, but could not sustain a period of attacking pressure at any moment.

When Paul Williams’ drive thudded against an upright, they could be forgiven for thinking their luck was out.

 

Shutting out Albion

Witton had scored in every away game this term before boarding a bus to Barnsley.

They’d only fired a blank twice on home turf too.

Coincidentally, Shaw Lane keeping them out means that both teams have recorded 15 clean sheets.

Four Albion players – Brad Bauress, Rob Hopley, Tolani Omotola and Steven Tames – have reached double-figures for goals.

Will Jones has netted seven in 12 starts.

In short, it’s not easy to stop them scoring.

It was a difficult night for Bauress, who received the Division One South Young Player of the Year award during the league’s annual presentation last weekend.

Starved of possession, he drifted inside seeking the ball.

Jones and Hopley toiled too, although they did combine to conjure a clear opening for the latter in the first half.

 

In praise of Gavin Allott

He did not add to his 24 league goals, even though he really ought to have done, but the Shaw Lane front man was inescapably pivotal to his side’s victory.

Almost every forward pass was direct towards him, usually aerially, because the Ducks knew he could dominate his direct opponents.

Anthony Brown and Scott Lycett both performed admirably, and didn’t shirk the physical challenge, but the former Frickley striker is at times impossible to stop.

Allott isn’t just a target-man; his heading is consistently excellent – deft, accurate and constructive – but he can play too with the ball at his feet.

You can criticise Shaw Lane for having no Plan B, but when Plan A is so good it’s rarely exposed as a handicap for them.

 

Where next for Witton…?

Carl Macauley said afterwards Albion will attempt to collect nine points from their remaining matches.

He conceded though that Shaw Lane are now favourites to go on and win the title.

A tired team needs a breather before what they hope will be two promotion play-offs matches, the first of which they know will be in just under a fortnight.

His selection for Saturday’s visit of Stamford will be telling.

It’s inconceivable Witton won’t be at full-strength for a derby duel with tenants Northwich Victoria on Monday, but there is a balance to be struck.

His dilemma is genuine; after all, he’d kick himself if a weakened side did not beat the Daniels if Shaw Lane unexpectedly lose to Chasetown.

Witton have responded to each of their previous four league defeats this season by winning the next fixture.

This group’s resilience is beyond all doubt, but last night’s reverse is the biggest setback they’ve suffered.