Witton 3 Radcliffe 0 (From Northwich Guardian)

Witton Albion cruise to comfortable win in Evo-Stik Northern Premier League against Radcliffe

11:34pm Wednesday 26th October 2011 in Match reports By Andrew Simpson

WITTON Albion showed no sign of stopping a winning sequence that reached a dozen matches after they rolled over Radcliffe.

They permitted themselves profligacy, particularly before half time, that could have cost them against better opposition.

But Boro did not believe they could win.

Indeed, former Witton boss Benny Phillips will have been happy to reach the interval only a goal adrift following a first half hammering.

Albion, at full strength, did not hide how much they wanted maximum points even with Saturday’s FA Cup clash against Barrow on the horizon.

Radcliffe custodian Nick Culkin saved smartly low to his left in the third minute to keep out Daniel Andrews’ volley. It set the pattern.

However the hosts survived a scare soon afterwards when Mathew Wood’s carelessness sent Ben Wharton clear, but he shot too close to Witton number on Matt Cooper.

Andrews’ angled cross was headed too high by Ben Harrison, then the former forced Culkin to tip over after Alex Titchiner’s touch had sent him into a shooting space.

Culkin called upon instinct to put a boot in the way off Paul Booth’s stabbed shot, again from Andrews’ assist, as Albion dominated.

They proved prone to a lapse though; Carl Clampitt’s sloppy pass prompting Mark Jones to put namesake Griff clear only for the forward to fire feebly off target.

Showing no mercy, Witton at last broke though four minutes before the break.

Andrews’ involvement was inevitable, his clipped pass cushioned by Josh Hancock into Liam Newman’s path and the ex-Winsford striker did the rest.

Witton, less fluid after the restart, remained in control for long enough to end the contest with two goals in a five minutes spell.

Boro were still in debt to Culkin, who turned aside Wood’s drive before blocking Anthony Sheehan’s shot after another Titchiner touch had opened up the visitors’ defence.

Phillips had reason to be rueful when Albion scored again, for stopper James Mullineux had limped off injured before being substituted.

Radcliffe had not reshuffled before Andrews scooped a pass into the space previously occupied by the hurt defender.

Newman should have scored, but Culkin’s parry fell for Titchiner to apply a finishing touch from close range.

Andrews slammed in a spot kick soon afterwards following Steve Howson’s shove on Titchiner, and Albion were out of sight.

There was time enough for Titchiner and then Newman to both miss the target when presented with a clear sight of goal, before substitute Jamie Harrison’s free kick hit an upright after he had cleverly guided the ball around Radcliffe’s wall.

Boro, by now deflated, shot not once on target in the second period.

Barrow joint boss Dave Bayliss watched on, but there is no way the Bluebirds will accommodate Albion’s attack in the same way come Saturday.

But, in this form, Witton will worry nota jot about that.

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Albion Star Man Alex Titchiner. Quite simply a class apart. The striker’s movement and touch left Boro’s backline chasing shadows in the first half.

The former Crewe Alexandra front man showed a hunger to score too, reacting first to touch in Albion’s second goal after goalkeeper Nick Culkin had parried Liam Newman’s initial effort.

A word too for Daniel Andrews, who cuts in from the right flank with a natural ease that rarely results in a chance not being created.

Witton (4-4-2) Cooper (GK), Gardner, Ben Harrison (Ennion 76), Booth, Wood, Andrews, Sheehan, Clampitt, Hancock (Jamie Harrison 70), Newman (Schofield 83), Titchiner
Subs not used Woolley, Moseley
Goal Newman 41, Titchiner 64, Andrews 69 (penalty)

Radcliffe (4-4-2) Culkin (GK), Barlow, Mullineux (Meace 65), Howson, Tickle, Sherlock, Brooks, Mark Jones, Reece Kelly (Roberts 46), Griff Jones (Burke 46), Wharton
Subs not used King, Casey
Booked Mullineux, Barlow (both fouls), Roberts (dissent)

Referee Anthony Moore (Stockport)
Attendance 259