Senior sports writer Andrew Simpson picks out the points that matter from Monday's derby encounter:

Fortress Wincham Park…for Vics!

NORTHWICH Victoria have won nine of 10 league matches at their new home this season.

The other was a goalless stalemate.

Only Warrington Town have collected more points in front of the own supporters in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s Division One North, but Yellows have been hosts 13 times.

Albion’s consolation is to have become only the third team to score against Jim Gannon’s men at Wincham Park this term after Mossley and Lancaster.

Even a switch to the away dressing room did not help - five of Witton’s seven league wins this term have been on the road – blemish their tenants’ record to date.

Vics have not trailed now in a home game since a 2-2 draw with Harrogate Railway Athletic on April 18.

 

Macauley makes loan market work for Witton

RYAN Ellison and Billy Reeves, on loan with Albion from Stockport County and Port Vale respectively, were among their team’s best performers on Monday afternoon.

Goalkeeper Andy Firth completes a teenage trio that manager Carl Macauley has borrowed from other clubs.

They’ve each served him well, with Reeves’ energy and intensity particularly prominent in a Christmas double against the league’s top two teams.

Ellison’s battle with Vics’ leading scorer Richie Bennett was a highlight of the latest derby, with the latter shading the battle by virtue of his expertly-taken goal.

If Albion can persuade County to let him stay longer, his burgeoning partnership with Michael Wilson can only get better.

 

Northwich Guardian:

Ryan Ellison's performance for Witton was encouraging on Monday

 

What next after Jordan Williams’ departure?

NORTHWICH announced earlier on Tuesday that attacker Jordan Williams will join National League side Barrow when the transfer window opens next week.

A move to non-league football’s top-flight is a reward for the 23-year-old’s form on the field this season since a summer switch from Division One North rivals Burscough.

 

Manager Jim Gannon selected Gary Burnett alongside Richie Bennett in a front two, with Iain Howard stationed between them and a midfield trio of Brian Summerskill, Jimmy Ball and Michael Roddy.

The strike pair both scored, however Howard was less prominent than he was when Vics beat Albion in August.

Williams’ searing pace and ability to dribble past defenders will be missed, but Burnett and Bennett will benefit from playing together in the weeks ahead.

 

Have Witton turned a corner?

IT’S worth repeating a question asked after a Boxing Day draw with Warrington Town.

Despite Albion’s vastly-improved performances, they only collected a single point from six on offer over Christmas.

Of course the success or failure of their campaign should not be judged on head-to-heads with the division’s strongest sides, particularly so early in Carl Macauley’s tenure.

Back-to-back away wins at Trafford and Brighouse are a better barometer, as is a home date with struggling Harrogate Railway Athletic this weekend.

How will Albion cope with being expected to win?

“Play with the same passion as the past few games and we’ll be ok,” is Macauley’s view.

 

As a derby, how did it rate?

IN contrast to August’s first meeting, a disappointing contest played in a flat atmosphere, this was a more vibrant affair.

The game was better, and supporters of both sides duly responded.

A crowd of 734 is the biggest by far that either Witton or Vics have played in front of this term, along with the 710 that watched the return game.

However even combined those figures do not match an attendance of 1,564 that was declared at Wincham Park for a 1-1 draw in the Conference back in April 1994.

But these are different days and, while Albion’s gates are down significantly on last term, they still rank as the third best-supported side in Northern Premier League’s Division One North.