ROB Hopley’s late goal lifted Witton Albion closer to the table’s summit, but they were below their best against Bedworth.

Howeer this was no slump caused by the disappointment of conceding a stoppage-time leveller in midweek.

Instead enforced changes due to the absence of four pivotal players – goalkeeper Danny Roberts, full-back Matty Devine and midfield duo Prince Haywood and Paul Williams – left them out of sync.

Their replacements had made fewer than 10 starts between them for Witton this season.

That is a lot of know-how to lose in one go, and Albion’s first-half performance had the feel of strangers getting used to unfamiliar surroundings.

Had Bedworth been braver, they may have been rewarded.

The visitors still created the best chances before the break, and stand-in custodian Craig Ellison was a relieved spectator when Richard Blythe’s attempt drifted narrowly wide.

Jack Jeys went closer still.

He was favourite to hit the target when running onto a through-ball on 40 minutes, only for Witton defender Scott Lycett to time perfectly a sliding challenge.

When the front man jabbed a second attempt goal-wards, Ellison was alert to save low to his right.

Steven Tames went closest at the other end, prompting number one Josh Barnes to scramble sideways to parry his free-kick.

Carl Macauley tweaked his team’s formation, primarily to prevent Bauress and Tom Owens from being outnumbered in the middle of the pitch, but their tempo did not rise as a result.

Teenager Danny Reynolds, impressive again with the ball at his feet as he had been on his debut at Kidsgrove, side-stepped cleverly into a shooting space at the start of the second period.

However his arcing effort scraped a post on its way past.

Albion’s demeanour changed with the introduction of Tolani Omotola to their attack, the youngster’s speed allowing them to stretch Bedworth’s defence more than previously.

Indeed, bookings for rash challenges by Blythe and Nathan Haines provided evidence of the visitors’ discomfort.

However their defence was not breached until nine minutes from time when Hopley pounced to slam in a loose ball diverted his way by Omotola from a Bauress free kick.

Omotola’s burst up the left shortly afterwards tempted Barnes into a rash sliding challenge outside of his penalty area, earning him a caution.

A robust challenge on Owens, which left him prone on the floor, then sparked a melee next to the dugouts that involved almost every player.

Albion defender Anthony Brown and Bedworth’s Rowe, fortunate not to be dismissed for raising his hands, were both shown a yellow card for their part in the fracas.

Even that is unlikely to be enough to make anybody more likely to remember this game for very long.

Witton | 4-4-2 | Ellison (GK), Gardner, Brown, Lycett, Hickman (Wilson 62), Hinchliffe (Noon 80), Owens, Bauress, Reynolds (Omotola 62), Hopley, Tames Subs not used Sloane, Moore (GK) Goal Hopley 81 Booked Brown (ungentlemanly conduct)

Bedworth | 3-5-2 | Barnes (GK), Albrighton, McAteer, Haines, Smith (Kavanagh 87), Lee Moore, Parrott, Blythe, Rowe, Creaney, Jeys Subs not used Brehon, Perkins, Amour, Penny Booked Blythe, Haines, Barnes (all fouls), Rowe, Kavanagh (both ungentlemanly conduct)

Referee Daniel Issawi

Attendance 333