WITTON boss Brian Pritchard believes goalkeeper Matt Cooper made safe his team’s passage to quarter finals of the Cheshire FA Senior Cup last night, Wednesday.

Albion’s custodian had to be alert in both halves of his side’s second round clash with Runcorn Town, producing a stunning save to deny Paul Shanley shortly after half time.

“I’m delighted for him,” said Pritchard after the hosts’ 1-0 win.

“Matt deserves that clean sheet as a reward for how hard he’s worked over the past few weeks even when we’ve not had a game.

“I thought he showed what a good keeper he really is, not just for the shots he stopped but also for how he took responsibility behind a young defence.”

Joe Shaw’s strike seven minutes from time, following fine approach play by substitute Jamie Harrison, settled an encounter that the visitors had edged throughout.

Pritchard admitted he was relieved just to have made it through.

He added: “It’s a win, and a hard fought one.

“I think Simon Burton deserves a lot of credit for what he has achieved at Runcorn; they showed against us why they are contenders for promotion from their division and are still in the FA Vase.

“I’m happy to have got a game in after another enforced break, so it was inevitable that we wouldn’t be as sharp as perhaps I would have liked.”

Josh Hancock (ankle) and Josh Horne (knee) both limped off during the second half, but neither is expected to be ruled out for long.

Striker Steve Foster completed his suspension last night too, so is available again for Albion’s next game.

To read a report from last night's game, click here: http://bit.ly/10BkxIF