Carl Ruffer scores late on to seal points for Witton Albion against Stamford (From Northwich Guardian)

Carl Ruffer scores late on to seal points for Witton Albion against Stamford

3:14pm Monday 1st March 2010 in

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WITTON’S return to winning ways could not come soon enough.

They stuttered, slightly, before seeing off Stamford but there can be little doubt that they were worthy victors as their push for the play-offs kick-started.

The points were only safe when Carl Ruffer scored late on.

He swept in Peter Heler’s assist from close range to bag Albion’s third goal with five minutes left of an encounter they had started so brightly.

A hectic opening saw a defender at both ends of the pitch back on his goalline to clear, Heler the home player to be denied.

Then from the impressive Lee Beeson's free kick Witton keeper Jack Baker produced his first save of the match when he pushed away Miles Chamberlain's header.

Gary Finley’s men then scored twice in five minutes.

First Ryan Broadhead headed his first goal for the club from Brad Maylett’s free kick, then Carl Lamb sent a loose ball into the net after custodian Chris Wright had fumbled Ross Lloyd’s cross.

The crestfallen keeper made up for his howler when he got enough of a touch onto the ball diving to his left to deny Maylett.

Albion continued to look most likely to add to their tally after half time when Broadhead nodded over, again assisted by Maylett, before substitute Mike Moseley teed up Ronnie Morgan only for the former Cammell Laird front man to fluff his finish.

Beeson forced Baker to save smartly from another free kick before the Daniels' halved their arrears when Chamberlain fired through a group of red and white shirts following a corner.

Witton wobbled.

The normally-reliable Steve Foster blazed his shot over then he was denied by Wright when the net-minder shovelled away his next effort for a corner.

Albion restored their two-goals advantage when Ruffer converted Heler’s cross.

Moseley should have extended the lead in stoppage time but by then Witton’s points, which keep them within two of the play-offs places, were safe.

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Witton Baker (GK), Lloyd, Broadhead, Ruffer, Warner, Maylett, Jones, Heler, Morgan (McAllister 89), Lamb (Moseley 62), Foster
Subs not used Brodie
Attendance 189