Ashton v Witton: preview (From Northwich Guardian)

Witton Albion seek to extend unbeaten run to five games when they visit Ashton United

11:50am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport By Andrew Simpson, Senior Sports Writer

Ashton United v Witton Albion (Kick off 7.45pm)
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division
Venue Hurst Cross, Surrey Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, OL6 8DY
Referee James Mainwaring (Bury)
Admission Adults £9, Concessions (NUS/OAP) £6, Accompanied under 13s Free
Odds (bet365) Ashton 5/4, Draw 5/2, Witton 8/5
Previous meeting Ashton 5 Witton 1 (Northern Premier League Premier Division, April 13 2009)

Ashton (from) Phillips (GK), Frost, Harrop, Lynch, Robinson, Beattie, Burke, Connor, Hogan, Johnson, Kosylo, Lambert, Moore, Amadi, Barlow, Burns, Riley, Sherriff
Doubtful Kosylo (knee)
Injured Baguley (ankle), Caldecott (thigh), Deegan (broken leg)
Suspended none
Disciplinary Y48 R5
Top scorer Aaron Burns (24)
Form (Past six home in league) W D L D L L
Record (home) P14 W5 D4 L5 F28 A24 Pts19
Record (overall) Pos9 P29 W13 D8 L8 F59 A49 Pts47

Witton (from) Cooper (GK), Plant (GK), Gardner, Glover, Harrison, Horne, Wood, Andrews, Hancock, James, Powell, Shaw, Sheehan, Foster, Moseley, Tuck
Doubtful Cooper (thigh), Harrison (knee)
Injured Clayton (knee)
Suspended none
Disciplinary Y48 R3
Top scorer Shaun Tuck (20)
Title odds (SKY Bet) 150/1
Form (Past six away in league) D W W L D W
Record (away) P15 W8 D4 L3 F30 A22 Pts28
Record (overall) Pos5 P30 W14 D8 L8 F58 A46 Pts50

Match pointers
IF Witton avoid defeat at Ashton, then they will match their longest unbeaten run in the Premier Division this season.

Albion are one of the section’s best travellers, losing only once in their past eight away days, with a bigger points haul to date on pitches away from Wincham Park.

An added incentive to win is to prevent Ashton becoming the second team, title favourites North Ferriby United are the first, to complete a league double over them this term.

Manager Brian Pritchard will be forced to make at least one change to the team that started Saturday’s draw against Hednesford following Danny Meadowcroft’s departure to Colwyn Bay.

However Ben Harrison hopes to have shaken off an injury to feature.

Ashton, previously winners only once in 10 attempts, have recovered to win back-to-back league matches in the past seven days.

It means the Robins start tonight’s contest three points adrift of their guests with a game in hand.

Manager Danny Johnson is likely to welcome back Chris Lynch after suspension, while new recruit Chris Amadi is pushing for a start after scoring twice as a substitute at Nantwich on Saturday.

Ashton are yet to shut out an opponent from the top half of the table, in eight games, at Hurst Cross. They have lost in half of those encounters too.