Subs changed the game, says Witton boss (From Northwich Guardian)

Witton Albion manager Brian Pritchard believes his team's substitutes were key to victory against Worksop

2:31am Sunday 10th March 2013 in Sport By Andrew Simpson, Senior Sports Writer

WITTON capped a stirring seven days by turning over a two-goal deficit to beat fellow play-offs hopefuls Worksop on Saturday.

A 4-3 success took Albion’s points tally to seven in a week that included head-to-heads with three rivals with a shared ambition to finish in the Premier Division’s top five.

Their reward is third place in the table with 10 games left.

“We can’t keep coming from behind,” said manager Brian Pritchard, referring to his team trailing 3-1 to the Tigers by the break.

“I can’t believe how bad we were in the first half, and told the players that in no uncertain terms.

“Worksop were physically stronger than us, but we were our own worst enemy in gifting them their first two goals.”

The introduction of substitutes Joe Shaw and top scorer Shaun Tuck helped Witton to recover, the latter scoring the game’s decisive goal with seven minutes left.

Shaw played a part too, his free kick enabling Josh Glover to start the recovery when scoring for the first time in red and white.

Pritchard said: “We were more incisive in the second half.

“Mathew Wood was injured, so the change of formation that helped us on our way was perhaps more an accident than design.

“The lads’ determination was great, just as it was last Saturday [against Hednesford] when we went down to 10 men.”

Witton were awarded two penalties, the first missed by Michael Powell before Josh Hancock converted a second to make it 3-3 shortly after Glover’s goal.

The Albion boss told the Guardian that the players had decided who was to strike from the spot.

He added: “As far as I’m concerned, Anthony Gardner is our penalty taker.

“The players made a decision out there on the field, although our penalty curse still seemed to strike again.

“I give them guidance by telling them what I think, but they’re grown men and should be trusted to think for themselves.

“Sometimes that works, others it doesn’t.”

Wood (ankle) is now doubtful for Wednesday’s Cheshire FA Senior Cup semi final at Chester.

To read a report of Saturday's game, click here: http://bit.ly/XyGlav