THE crowd was a big one, but so is the disappointment after this latest defeat.

Witton have lost three of four league matches played in front of their largest attendances this term, a fact not lost on frustrated manager Brian Pritchard.

“It’s like Groundhog Day,” he rued afterwards.

“The pattern is there for all to see.”

Witton have never beaten – or scored against – Skelmersdale in a league match on their own pitch, nor did the look likely to once the momentum of a bright beginning had dissipated.

The visitors, while not at their best in windy conditions that blew both teams from their customary stride, adapted better to score a third successive league win.

They swap places with Albion in the table as a reward.

Josh Hine was their match winner, scoring twice in a quarter hour spell after the interval to leave Witton with too much to do.

Anthony Sheehan’s penalty halved their arrears but the hosts, while grabbing glimpses of goal, did not put on enough pressure to save a point.

“It’s extremely disappointing,” admitted Pritchard.

“I thought the two teams were evenly-matched, but we didn’t deserve anything in truth.”

When Matthew Woolley warmed the hands of custodian Sam Ashton from distance and Danny Andrews forced the goalkeeper to block smartly, he was entitled to expect a different outcome.

Skem, with an extra man in midfield, smothered them though.

Andrews fired a free kick too close to Ashton at the start of the second period, but Witton went behind soon afterwards.

Hine latched onto a lofted pass on 51 minutes, making the most of a moment’s hesitation from Albion number one Matt Cooper to roll in the game’s opening goal.

The former Clitheroe front man’s second was stylishly delivered, scoring from acute angle racing clear following Kenny Strickland’s quickly-taken throw.

Albion were caught cold.

They mustered a really of sorts when Josh Hancock went close three times in five minutes, poking off target from Andrews’ corner and forcing Ashton to save smartly from a free kick before sending a header against the post.

At the other end, Cooper was at full stretch to tip over Chris Almond’s bullet header.

Sheehan, given another chance from the spot after his initial effort had been saved superbly by Ashton, showed no mercy in scoring from his second attempt after Andrews had been tripped clumsily by Paul Woolcott.

But there was to be no late onslaught, Witton’s best chance fired by substitute Mark Buchan straight at Skem’s net-minder after Hancock had spotted him in a shooting space.


Witton (4-4-2) Cooper (GK), Woolley, Gardner, Harrison, Wood, Andrews, Sheehan, James (Clampitt 70), Hancock, Newman (Buchan 65), Titchiner (Gahgan 78)
Subs not used Schofield, Moseley
Goal Sheehan 71 (penalty)

Skelmersdale (4-4-2) Ashton (GK), Field, McIntosh, Burke, Corrigan, Hickey, Woolcott, Strickland, Parle, Almond, Hine
Subs not used Evans, Rendell, Crowder, Mooney, Brocklehurst
Goals Hine 51, 64
Booked Hine, Hickey, Parle (all fouls), Burke (dissent)

Referee Mark Duncan (Warrington)
Attendance 420