Prescot Cables 1 Witton Albion 0

2:00pm Monday 3rd March 2008

JIM Vince branded Albion's afternoon as worse than horrible.

The poor state of Prescot's pitch left the Witton boss lost for words after seeing his side slip to only their third reverse of the campaign.

"It was a joke, fit only for Sunday league," he said.

"People will say it's sour grapes but I'm the first to hold my hands up when we deserve to lose a game. Their pitch was an embarrassment."

Witton struggled to adapt their passing style although in truth the Valerie Park surface was only partly to blame for the scoreline.

Tony Barras missed a penalty as Albion wasted a host of chances before a late defensive lapse cost them even a share of the points.

Ryan Wade, under pressure from Brian Pritchard, toe poked what turned out to be the winner after working himself a space to shoot between the visitors' two central defenders.

It sealed Witton's third 1-0 defeat on their travels this term.

Prescot's Liam Kennedy went closest to opening the scoring early on, namesake John Kennedy's one handed save turning his volley around the post.

Witton blew their best chance on the half hour.

Rod Thornley was wrestled to the floor and, despite Prescot protests, the referee pointed directly to the spot. With first choice penalty taker Mark Peers on the bench Barras took responsibility but his attempt provided an easy save for Cables' keeper Zak Hibbert.

Peers' introduction after the interval looked like it might break the deadlock, his best moment a fierce left foot drive towards the top corner that Hibbert turned over the bar.

From the ensuing corner Steve Brodie drove against the upright.

Their final sniff of a leveller came when a defensive header over the advancing Hibbert put sub Tony Evans through on goal but he could only find the side netting.

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Star Man: Alex Brown
ALBION: Kennedy (GK), Kearney, Barras, Pritchard, Brownhill, Lloyd (Peers), Brown, MacPherson, Brodie (Coo), Warlow (Evans), Thornley
Attendance: 354