IT would be a shame if the past seven days shrouds how Witton Albion have performed so far in 2016.

A tie with the worst team in their division last Saturday was followed by a humbling on home turf by 1874 Northwich in the Mid-Cheshire District FA Senior Cup final little more than 48 hours later.

Beating Clitheroe this afternoon would at least make that painful memory fade a little.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t go out there and show what we’ve been doing so well,” said manager Carl Macauley following a 3-0 defeat on Monday.

Had the season started on New Year’s Day, his side would be sixth in the First Division North table.

Most notably, a promotion play-offs place would still be within reach.

That sentence is made more remarkable by the fact they slipped as low as 17th place following a 2-1 defeat against Northwich Victoria at Christmas.

Macauley said: “These players have come on leaps and bounds over the past few months.

“I’ll be looking for a response [against Clitheroe], not least because it would be fitting if we finished the season on a high.

“If we return to the habits that have got us results, and helped us keep clean sheets, then I’m confident we will.”

A victory against Clitheroe, who have lost their past half-dozen matches, will secure ninth position.

In those standings based on points collected since January 1, the top three sides – albeit with Spennymoor in first place followed by Warrington and then Glossop – would be as they are now.

Lancaster are next, ahead of Burscough on goal difference, with Albion just a point further back.

Of 20 Northern Premier League matches since the turn of the year, they have won 11 and drawn five.

Frustratingly, four of those stalemates were against sides in the bottom six.

Had they beaten back-markers New Mills in two of those games, like pretty much every other rival has in the 22-strong section, then they would be third at kick off today.

Macauley said: “Remember where Witton were [in October] when we arrived.

“We’ve repeated one message since the first day – that these players should who passion whenever they put on a shirt.

“I think every single player has done that, which is why it was so surprising to see the performance we did against 1874.

“It was easily the worst of my time here so far.”

Albion lost the first four matches of Macauley’s tenure, including an FA Trophy exit at home to Radcliffe Borough.

Since then, his win ratio is higher than 50 per cent.

Put another way, that’s 15 wins – and six draws – from 29 games in all competitions.

He added: “That breeds confidence, which is important when we build towards next year.

“The better we finish, the more of an impact that has.”

Northwich Guardian:

Witton's players have had plenty more to celebrate on the pitch since the turn of the year